International Journal of Scientific Research in ___________________________ Research Paper .

Physics and Applied Sciences

Vol.8, Issue.4, pp.18-21, August (2020) E-ISSN: 2348-3423

Making Charcoal Briquettes Using Agricultural Wastage

S.Aynharan1*, R.M.S.M. Rathnayake2, P.Sinthuja3, P.R. Fernando4
1,2,3,4
Dept. of Physics, Eastern University of Sri Lanka, Vantharumoolai, Chenkalady, Batticaloa, Sri Lanka

*Corresponding Author: 05sanjee@gmail.com, Tel: +94772075144

Available online at: www.isroset.org

Received: 09/Jun/2020, Accepted: 11/Aug/2020, Online: 31/Aug/2020
Abstract- Day to day, millions of tons of agricultural wastes are generated which are destroyed without any use. Using
this, can provide a renewable energy source by converting biomass charcoal briquettes. Briquettes are non-renewable
source of energy which is used to reduce the demand of energy source. This study is carried out to produce good thermal
efficiency briquettes as an alternative source of energy by using waste materials such as rice husk, pine cones, pine needles
and coconut shells. Different types of briquette sample are manufactured based upon their raw materials. All the briquettes
have same weight, design and physical structure. The briquette, having cow dung as the binder with ratio to one of two of
cow dung with raw material. The analysis of the briquettes compared with the commercial product which is available in the
market. The samples are analyzed upon these parameters by performing water boiling tests and proximate analysis such as
flame time and burning rate. The pine cones briquette with cow dung as the binder is having the longest life among all the
considered types of the briquettes. The burning rate is observed better for the pine cones briquette. According to the water
boiling test the commercial product raw coal has got least time. However the pine needle briquettes take small different
than raw coal.

Keywords: rice husk, pine needle, pine cones, coconut shell and briquette

I. INTRODUCTION and support the energy demand and environmental

The number of industries is growing day by day so the
energy demand is also increasing. Nowadays most of the
industries are used raw coal and also which is used
domestic purposes (cooking, heating, barbequing, etc…)
and power generation. Ignition of raw coal emits harmful
emissions which more generates acid rain, global warming
and climate change [1, 2]. Using Biomass briquettes was
recommended is a good solution to overcome these
problems. Many of the developing countries produce
massive amounts of agro wastage but they are not used an
efficient way and it caused environmental pollution, the
direct burning of loose biomass and widespread air
pollution. In addition to this storage, transportation and
handling are the major problems. Charcoal briquettes can
be prepared by using on hand agricultural waste materials.
In villages and rural areas, they are able to made from rice
husk, pine cones, pine needle and coconut shell.
Briquette is a chunk that is used as an energy source to
initiate and sustain the fire. Rice husk is formed by rice
milling in the agro–based biomass industry. Generally, rice
husk has got fewer amount of moisture (10-12%) while the
small amounts of alkaline minerals are in the rice husk ash.
It can be used as fuel although its calorific value is less
than wood [3]. The 20 % of rice husk is produced when
the rice milling [4] on a dry weight basis but It cannot be
used effectively because it has higher humidity content
lower density and energy density. To overcome these
problems making briquettes is an effectual way to solve
deprivation [5].
The leaves and cones of pine trees are falling every year.
These leaves have about 70% of mean volatile matter
content. They lying on the land which makes forest fire
and it covers the ground like the net format and it reduces
the growing capacity of the land. These fires demolish the
ecosystem, destroying grazing grounds and destructive the
fertile of the soils. In addition to that which release
harmful gases into the atmosphere. To overcome those
problems developing pine needle briquettes and save
biodiversity. By increasing the density, it can generate a
good energy source.
Sri Lanka is one of the primary countries in coconut
production. The current production varies from 2,500 to
3,000 million nuts throughout the country. It is used as
copra, coconut milk and oil while the coconut shell had not
been demoralized. Coconut shell has got high calorific
value and Chemical elements such as carbon, hydrogen,
and nitrogen were included in the form of main organic
compounds. It could be considered as raw material to
manufacture briquettes as an alternative source.
In rice mill, huge amounts of rice husk are generated
which pollutes the atmosphere when burnt openly. It can
be transformed as briquette is a suitable solution for
energy demand. This rice husk is rich in calories with a
range of 14.2 to 17.5 MJ/kg [6]. Throughout the cooking

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 Int. J. Sci. Res. in Physics and Applied Sciences Vol.8, Issue.4, Aug 2020

process, 1.63 kilograms of wood fuel is produced by One

kilogram of rice husk briquette [7].

Cow dung is used as a co-product in agriculture, such as

manure, biofertilizer, biopesticides, pest repellent and as a
source of energy. Cow manure can be used as an
alternative energy source for the substitution of fossil fuel.
Cow dung is high in calories which produces methane gas
and heat around of 4000 calories/gram. Methane gas helps
to ignition in briquettes to make the flammable briquettes.

II. RELATED WORK

There are several related work carried out regarding the

making briquettes using waste materials. Pine needle
charcoal briquettes using clay and cow dung as the binder
with holes has been reported [8]. This research work
concluded that less number of holes briquettes maintain
the heat for a long time. Using rice straw and coconut
shells making briquettes also analyzed [9]. It’s an effective
way to reduce the environmental pollution. These
briquettes are shown desirable characteristics and can be Figure 02: Raw material carbonized, a) pine needle b) rice husk
used as a good energy source. Another work has reported c) pine cones d) coconut shell
on handling the waste management in Nigerian forest. This
article reviewed preparing the briquettes is one of the Water boiling test: Water boiling test is under identical
solution to overcome this problem [10]. conditions, the time required for each type of briquette to
boil an equal volume of water. In this research work of the
III. METHODOLOGY 150 g of briquettes were weighted for each type and 50 ml
of the water was taken. Then the initial temperature of
Initially, a simple briquette molder was developed which is water was noted. The briquettes were put into the cooker
to be used in the manufacturing of the briquette. Briquette and burnt it. Then the temperature and the time were
molder was constructed using locally available materials measured for every minute.
(Figure 01).
Burning rate test: The burning rate test is calculated as the
ratio of mass of the briquettes consumed (in grams) to the
total time taken (in minutes).

Flame time test: The flame time test is determined by the

speediest pooped briquettes when they are burnt. The test
was carried out when the light-up briquettes to burn. The
needed time was calculated by using a stopwatch for each
type of briquettes.

Figure 01: Briquette molder

To make good briquettes the impurities were hinder from

the collected raw materials. The raw materials were
carbonized separately for certain hours and thus, thirty to
forty percent of the biomass charcoal was obtained (Figure
02). The biomass charcoal was mixed with the binder with Figure 03: Samples of briquettes
the ratio of 1:2 cow dung to raw material. The dough is
pressed on a cylindrical molding block and it was dried in IV. RESULTS
the air (Figure 03).
In this study, various types of briquettes were prepared and
proximate analyses were done. The briquettes were tested

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 Int. J. Sci. Res. in Physics and Applied Sciences Vol.8, Issue.4, Aug 2020

based on their potential when used as fuel for boiling The resuls of the flame test of the briqutees samples is
water (Figure 04). In addition to that burning rate and shown below (Figure 06).
flame time were analyzed. The result of physical
characterstics of the charcoal briqutees samples are shown Time VS Briquitees samples
in Table 01.
140
120

Time(T±1) min
Temperature VS Time 100
80
120 60
Tempertutre (θ±1)℃

100 40
20
80 0
60

40

20 Figure 06: Flame time of the briquitees samples

0 DISCUSSION
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 According to the results (Figure 04) on the water boiling
test that the sample pine needle with cow dung briquettes
Time (T±1) min is fastest to boil the water. Meanwhile, the commercial
pine needle rice husk product coal briquettes have taken the least time than the
pine cones coconut shell pine needle with cow dung briquettes. However, it is a
raw coal small amount of time which is less than 10 minutes. The
Figure 04: The variation of temperture with time for the
coconut shell briquetees also shows good thermal
briquitees samples
efficiency in water boiling test and which can be used for
cooking purpose. But pine cones briquetees take the
Figure 05 indicates the burning rate of the charcoal
longest time to boil water. It is used to maintain the
briqutees samples.
temperature such as heating and barbequiing.
Burning rate(g/min)
The burning rate for various briquettes is shown in Figure
7 05. The burning rate is least for the sample having a
6 mixture of pinecones and the cow dung, which is 1.29
g/min. For better efficiency, the burning rate must be less.
Mass (m±0.1) g

5 The briquette with the fastest firing rate is obtained by

4 pine needle of 5.36 g/min. But the commercial product
coal briquette has got 6.25 g/min as the burning rate.
3 Figure 06 shows the flame time. The longest flame time is
the briquettes pine cones with the longest time 116
2
minutes. This type can be used for cooking as well as
1 maintain the heat in cold areas, winter times and
mountainous regions. While, the briquette with a short
0 period of a flame is the briquette pine needle for 28
pine rice husk pine coconut raw coal minutes. But the coal briquette has less flame time.
needle cones shell
Time(T±1) min V. CONCLUSIONS AND FUTURE SCOPE

Figure 05: Burning rate for the briquitees samples Briquetting is one alternative method that may be utilized
the agricultural wastage into a useful product. The
Table 01: Physical characterstics of the charcoal briqutees briquette is used as an alternative energy source especially
Parameters Briqutees samples as fuel in rural areas and its support to reducing energy
Black colour,Cylindrical shape demand. The pine needle briquettes exhibited
Apperence
without holes advantageous characteristics in the water boiling test and
Diameter (4±0.1) cm burning rate test. Pine cones briquettes exhibit long-lasting
time. Thus, a suitable briquettes type can be chosen based
Weight (30±0.1) g
upon the needs. These results can be considered a
Approximate height (3±0.1) cm contribution to the development of more eco-friendly,

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 Int. J. Sci. Res. in Physics and Applied Sciences Vol.8, Issue.4, Aug 2020

sustainable and renewable utilization of agricultural

wastage.

The production of charcoal briquettes with vertical holes is

more efficient. The holes facilitate the flow of oxygen and
controlled burning which creates a light blue flame. This
technology has greater potential and could be used in the
future. There is a plenty of agriculture wastage (saw dust,
ground nut shell, corn husk and corn cob etc…) are
available without any use which makes huge problems
such as burning, handling, storage and transportation. It
could be suitable for making briquettes and can select
good thermal efficiency briquettes in the future. Also,
further research should be carried out to production costs
and economic analysis with the commercial product.

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