Production of Fuel Briquettes from Bamboo and Agricultural Residue as an Alternative to Charcoal

The study was done to explore the potential of producing fuel briquettes that could meet the need for energy in Uganda, especially Kampala city. The primary objective of this work was to produce fuel briquettes from homogeneous and heterogeneous combinations of carbonized maize cobs, Bamboo poles and charcoal dust. For the primary objective to be achieved, the main activities which were performed included;chopping bamboo poles, sorting maize cobs, carbonization, crushing, binder preparation, mixing, extrusion, drying and quality assessment of the fuel briquettes. The maize cobs and charcoal dust used for this work were purchased from the farmers and charcoal sellers respectively from the districts of Luwero and Nakaseke. Bamboo poles were provided by Divine bamboo group. The homogenous combinations included 100% maize cob char, 100% bamboo char and 100% charcoal dust. Heterogeneous combinations included 75% bamboo char + 25% charcoal dust and 25% bamboo char + 75% charcoal dust. The test results for both homogenous and heterogeneous combinations of fuel briquettes had ranges of moisture content 8% - 11%, Volatile matter 12% - 23%, Ash content 33% - 39%, Heating Value 16 - 22 MJ/Kg, Fixed Carbon 30% - 51% and moisture content 8% - 9%, Volatile matter 13% - 19%, Ash content 27% - 44%, Heating Value 16 - 18 MJ/Kg, Fixed Carbon 30% - 51% respectively. The test results for drop resistance, density and Compressibility strength for both homogeneous and heterogeneous combinations had ranges of 7% - 56%, 214 - 941 kg/m3, 0.077 - 0.544 N/mm2 and 12% - 28%, 869.1 - 958.3 kg/m3, 0.124 - 0.295 N/mm2 respectively. These results were within the ranges reported in the literature especially for the heterogeneous combinations. Therefore, there is the possibility to use bamboo woody feedstock in combination with other agricultural waste feedstock for the production of fuel briquettes. We can increase the quality and production of fuel briquettes by using alternative feedstock sources rather than degrading the environment through deforestation.