ABSTRACT

Given the increasing need for energy in the modern era, it is crucial to investigate options
for renewable alternatives. This research delved into the viability of using calamansi waste as an
alternative solid through the production of calamansi waste charcoal briquettes.

Fresh calamansi waste was sourced in Santa Maria, Zamboanga City from a local
calamansi plant. The process involved drying the calamansi waste biomass in the sun for three
days, then carbonizing the dried sample. The charcoal was pulverized and combined with a 20wt
% cassava-starch binder which was prepared by heating at 60-80 °C until mixture achieved gum
point. The binder and fine charcoal powder were uniformly mixed and pressed into briquettes
using a fabricated device. Produced briquettes on average had dimensions of 1 inch (2.5 cm) in
height and circumference. A reference charcoal briquette was made from coconut charcoal
combined into the same binder matrix to create a standardized analysis of its physio-chemical
and thermal properties and cost, with One-Way ANOVA at α=0.05 administered between groups
when appropriate.

A yield of 34.7813 ± 0.2187% of carbonized calamansi waste was produced from

carbonizationthe samples obtained. Proximate analysis revealed CCWB to contain 10.3%
moisture, 49.4% volatile matter, 10.7% ash, 29.6% fixed carbon and 0.22% sulfur by mass
fraction. No significant difference exists between the CWCB calamansi waste charcoal briquette
(CWCB) and the reference coconut charcoal briquette RCCB(RCCB) in bulk density. CCWB
had a compressive strength of 155.6813 ± 7.5711, with a significant difference compared to
RCCB. CCWB had an Impact Resistance Index value (IRI) of 100%., suggesting that CCWB
is resistant to fracture and fine formation. CCWB thermal analysis, which considered parameters
such as kindling (24.66867 s), boiling (971.1433 s), and burning time (3099.7600 s) indicated
superior thermal performance whenwere higher compared to RCCB. CCWB calorific value was
found to be 4522 calories per gram. Cost analysis revealed CCWB and RCCB to have the same
capital cost.
 In conclusion, calamansi waste charcoal briquettes are a viable alternative to traditional
fuel sources due to durability, long burning time, and fast kindling and burning time when
compared to a reference fuel and as well as its equivalent capital cost to conventional solid fuels.