Potential use of biomass and coal-fine waste for making briquette for sustainable energy and environment

Biomass waste contributes 14% of the total global energy. And 15-20% of the coal-fine waste from coal mines are deposited in the rivers, ponds, etc., unused, which leads to resource wastage and environmental pollution. The present study aims utilizing biomass and coal-fine waste for producing biomass-coal briquettes without using a binding material. Three different average sizes 50, 134.3, and 199.7 μm of biomass mixture (bagasse, groundnut shell, and woodchips) and coal-fines were used to make different ratios of biomass and coal mixture briquettes. Then, it is subjected to proximate, scanning electron microscope/elemental (SEM/EDX) and thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) to understand its property. Proximate analysis results revealed that the biomass waste has the low ash, sensible fixed carbon, and high volatile matter content. A briquette of biomass: coal = 7:1 ratio 50-μm particle size case was chosen for SEM/EDX and TGA analysis since it holds reasonable fixed carbon value comparatively. SEM analysis revealed irregular surfaces, cracks, cavities and longitudinal cracks, veins distribution all around, ups and shallows on the surface and it is the most favorable condition for fuel combustion since oxidant reaches the core of the fuel with less resistant. TGA reconfirms the spontaneous burning characteristics of the entire volatiles and fixed carbon. EDX analysis shows that the carbon and potassium are the two major elements present in the tested briquettes.

Keywords: Biomass; Briquette; Coal fines; Fixed carbon; Thermo-gravimetric analysis; Volatile matter.