A Comparative Study of the Thermo-Physical Properties of Fuel Briquettes of Sawdust and Rice Husk

T.K. Kwadzah1 and G.O. Ogbeh2
(1 & 2)Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering,
University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State
Email: terrumunkwadzah@gmail.com, ogbeh.gabriel@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT: Fuel briquettes were produced using rice husk and sawdust with cow dung and
waste paper pulp as binders respectively with the aid of a manually – operated hydraulic press.
These two categories of briquette were subjected to proximate and ultimate analyses in the
laboratory and their thermo-physical properties were determined. The results of the experiment
showed an average calorific value for the sawdust briquettes as (4,844Kcal/kg), while that of the
rice husk was (3347Kcal/kg); the most durable briquettes of sawdust were of moisture content
range of (5.7 – 7.1% wet basis) as compared to (4.3 – 5.2%, wet basis) recorded for the rice
husk briquette; an average density of (1.04g/cm3) was recorded for the sawdust briquette, while
that of rice husk briquette was found to be (1.06g/cm3); an average percentage ash content of
(2.5%) was recorded for the sawdust briquette, whereas a value of (2.8%) was noted for the rice
husk briquette; an average percentage fixed carbon of (20.6%) was recorded for the sawdust
briquette, while a value of (23.2%) was noted for the rice husk; also an average percentage
volatile matter of (71%) was recorded for the sawdust briquette as compared to (69.4%) value
for the rice husk briquette. From the result of these analyses, it was concluded that sawdust
possesses better qualities that would ensure good stability for storage, yield high heat content,
and better combustibility than rice husk when use for fuel briquettes under the same production
conditions.