Effect of cocoa pods husk blending on combustion characteristics of the low-rank coal analyzed in TGA

ABSTRACT

Cocoa Pod Husk (CPH) is biomass waste from plantation activities which have the potential to be used as a companion fuel for low-rank coal (LRC). This study aims to find out the characteristics of combustion using the TGA-DTA testing. This experiment was carried out by testing the crushed CPH and LRC raw materials with a particle size of 40 mesh based on ASTM standards, then CPH was added to the LRC. The composition of adding CPH into the LRC is 10%, 30%, and 50%, respectively. The results of this experiment presented that there is an increase in combustion performance as a result of adding the CPH into the LRC. This is a result of a decrease in the burning temperature of volatile matters and ignition temperature. The optimum amount of addition which gives a significant increase in combustion performance is obtained by adding 10% CPH into the LRC.

KEYWORDS:

• Cocoa pod husk–low-rank coal
• proximate analysis
• ultimate analysis
• TGA-DTA analysis

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Tadulako University Together with the Chancellor of Tadulako University for supporting the financing of this research so that this research went well.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.