Production of biomass briquettes from coffee husks

Abstract

In coffee processing industries large amounts of coffee husks are generated and they have been poorly utilized, left to decompose and dumped in the environment. Therefore, this research was intended to minimize industrial wastes through production of briquettes compressed from Biochar formed as a result of carbonizing coffee husks. The objectives of this research were to produce Briquettes from coffee husk biochar, determine the energy potential of briquette produced from coffee husk and characterize their fuel properties. The coffee husks were carbonized in a low oxygen environment separately by using a muffle furnace from NUCAFE. Then the carbonized materials were ground to fine particles and mixed with a binder and converted to briquettes by using a briquette extruder machine. The briquettes were taken for muffle oven at NUCAFE and IR laboratory at Chemistry Department, Makerere University for analysis. The Moisture content was10.8±2.05%, Volatile matter was 25.8±3.32%, Ash content was 12.5±2.36%, fixed carbon was 51.6±4.51%, Bulk density was 0.67±0.05 g/cc and the calorific value of the briquettes produced from coffee husk was 19232±80 cal/g which is greater the calorific value of briquettes produced from elephant grass which was 3817.6 cal/g (Onuegbu et al., 2012). It is concluded that briquettes produced from coffee husks could be used as an alternative source of energy and waste management option.