THE ENERGY POTENTIAL OF RICE HULL AS BIOFUEL FOR DOMESTIC USE

I. Yerima¹ and Richard T. Isa²

¹Department of Biological Sciences, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria

 ²Mill Six, Jalingo Taraba State

E-mail: yerima.ibrahim@yahoo.com, richtea4u2000@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

Due to increasing cost of Domestic Energy coupled with Desertification, increasing human population, high cost of electricity and petroleum gas, a survey of Rice hull dumping site was carried out in Maiduguri, with the aim of evaluating rice hull as a waste for domestic energy in this Ecological zone. Five parameters were examined and measured to determine their influence on the energy value of rice hull. The parameters include moisture content, density, air pocket, ash, and caloric value. All the five parameters interplay for rice hull to effectively burn as a fuel. However, low level of moisture and high number of air pocket (aeration) showed prominence, and significance in the efficiency of the material as biofuel.

Keywords:  Rice hull, Energy Biofuel, Moisture and caloric value.