Physico-Mechanical and Fuel Properties of Sawdust Briquettes using Abelmoschus esculentus Waste as a Binder

Abstract

Various physicomechanical, and fuel properties of sawdust briquettes with Abelmoschus esculentus (okra) waste binder additive were determined. Elemental analysis was done to determine the oxygen (O), hydrogen (H), and carbon content of the briquettes.  Volatile matter, ash content, fixed carbon, heating value, density, compressive strength, stability, durability, and shatter resistance. 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% Abelmoschus esculentus composition per weight of the biomass were used. The 5% Okra briquette had the highest volatile matter and heating value of 85.46% and 17.82 MJ/kg, while maintaining the lowest ash content and moisture content of 1.59% and 7.6%, respectively. The briquette with 5% Abelmoschus esculentus (Okra) composition had the highest carbon (C), hydrogen (H), and oxygen (O) contents of 42.7%, 5.64%, and 42.7%, respectively. The results were within international standard limits for briquettes. Based on the results obtained, the sawdust-Abelmoschus esculentus briquette can adequately replace firewood in sub-Saharan Africa. Okra showed great potential as a binder with a very high hardness level of 7 days in water without disintegration.  Increased utilization of agro-wastes briquettes will ensue while carbon emissions from the open burning of wastes will reduce. Equally, the use of clean cookstoves will increase with the production of these briquettes and will lead to a reduction in the present rate of deforestation that will result from domestic heating processes.