Estimation of the Moisture Content, Volatile Matter, Ash Content, Fixed Carbon and Calorific Values of Rice Husk Briquettes
Francis Inegbedion, Emmanuel Ikpoza
Abstract
The study was undertaken to assess the calorific value of briquettes produced from rice husk bonded with cassava starch.Rice husk was mixed with the starch binder in a ratio of 100:15.Combustion related properties namely percentage volatile matter, percentage ash content, percentage fixed carbon and calorific value of the briquettes where determined.Results indicated that the average percentage moisture content, the average percentage volatile matter, the average percentage ash content, the average percentage fixed carbon and the average calorific value for the rice husk briquette produced were 5.87%, 14.35%, 5.34%, 74.45%, 14304.61KCal/Kgrespectively.These results indicate that the briquettes made from rice husk have high heating value enough for domestic, small-scale industrial cottage applications.This research has established the potential of rice husk briquettes as alternative material for firewood, charcoals and fossil fuels.