Production of carbonized briquettes from charcoal fines using African Elemi (Canarium Schweinfurthii) resin as an organic binder

ABSTRACT

This study investigated the use of African Elemi (Canarium Schweinfurthii) resin as a binder for the production of carbonized briquettes from charcoal fines. The binder and charcoal fines were characterized through proximate analysis, ultimate analysis, higher heating value, and SEM. Four briquette samples (B25, B30, B35, and B40) with a ratio of charcoal fines: binder of 3:1, 7:3, 13:7, and 3:2, respectively, were produced at a compaction pressure of 5.92–7.96 MPa. The physical properties of the briquettes determined were bulk density, impact resistance index (IRI), compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, water resistance index (WRI), and morphology. The chemical properties of the briquettes determined were proximate analysis, ultimate analysis, higher heating value (HHV), and energy density. One-way ANOVA and Fisher’s LSD were used to analyze the chemical properties of briquettes. The briquettes had a bulk density of 0.770–1.036 g/cm³, IRI of 2.90–73.33, compressive strength of 2.25–10.94 N/mm², splitting tensile strength of 0.09–0.42 N/mm², WRI of 99.26–99.29, and an HHV of 29.7–31.3 MJ/kg. The briquette properties were found to be comparable to results from other studies.

KEYWORDS:

• African Elemi resin
• briquette
• binder
• proximate analysis
• ultimate analysis

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

The authors wish to extend their sincere gratitude to the Water Infrastructure and Sustainable Energy-Futures (WISE-Futures) centre for the financial support.

Notes on contributors

Bernard Kivumbi

Bernard Kivumbi: BSc. Mechanical Engineering (Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda), MSc. Mechanical Engineering with a specialization in Sustainable Energy Engineering (Royal Institute of Technology-KTH, Stockholm, Sweden). Currently, pursuing a PhD in Sustainable Energy Science and Engineering from the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (Arusha, Tanzania). Currently, a lecturer at Gulu University, Department of Biosystems Engineering (Gulu, Uganda).

Yusufu A. C. Jande

Yusufu A. C. Jande: BSc. Mechanical Engineering (Middle East Technical University, Ankara Turkey); MSc. Mechanical Engineering (Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey); PhD in Mechanical Engineering (Hanyang University, Seoul, South Korea). Currently, Senior lecturer in the Department of Materials, Energy Science, and Engineering, the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology(Arusha, Tanzania)

Specialization: Capacitive deionization, Selective laser sintering

Research interests: Capacitive deionization for desalination, ionic liquids purification, and energy consumption minimization in solvent-based CO₂ capture. Production of uniformly porous and graded porous structures using selective laser sintering process.

John B. Kirabira

John B. Kirabira: Bsc. Mechanical Engineering (Makerere University,Kampala, Uganda), MSc. Mechanical Engineering (Makerere University, Kampala,Uganda), PhD and Licentiate degrees in Materials Science and Engineering (Royal Institute of Technology-KTH,Stockholm, Sweden). Currently, a professor and Chair/Head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering, College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology, Makerere University. Also, the Centre Leader for the Africa Centre of Excellence for Materials, Product Development and Nanotechnology (MAPRONANO).

Thomas T. Kivevele

Thomas T. Kivevele; senior lecturer, Department of Materials, Energy Science and Engineering, Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology. His area of specialization is Electro-Mechanical Engineering and renewable energy with particular research interests in solar energy applications, bio-energy systems, and biomaterials drying technologies.