Thermo-Fuel Characterization of Bio-Composite Charcoal Briquettes Derived from Argo-Forest Wastes

Biomass materials can serve as a good alternative source of renewable energy that will help decrease reliance on fossil fuels and will help decrease environmental pollution. Charcoal specifically burns more efficiently and generates less smoke emissions than raw biomass, leading to minimal greenhouse gas emissions. The biomass to charcoal briquettes provide a combined solution to energy insecurity, waste management, and environmental sustainability. This study examines the fuel and environmental characteristics of charcoal briquettes made using rice straw, sugarcane leaves, sawdust, maize cobs, and forest residues. It sought to assess their relevance as clean solid fuels in domestic and small-scale energy usages. The agricultural and forest residues were subjected to controlled carbonization and then briquette formation was carried out through low compaction pressure (no more than 7 MPa) and starch as a natural binder. All the experimental analyses were carried out in accordance with the standard procedures and generally accepted tests. Proximate analysis showed a percentage of water content, volatile matter, ash content, and fixed carbon. The resulting briquettes also showed a calorific value ranging between 16.6 and 22 MJ kg -1, which means that the energy density of these briquettes is favorable and is comparable to those of solid fuels in common use. A comparative evaluation against the locally available coal revealed that the resulting charcoal briquettes had much lower concentrations of nitrogen and sulfur, and this implied that there was less promise of harmful emissions like NOx and SOx during combustion. All these attributes affirm the environmental benefits of charcoal produced through biomass against traditional coal fuels. Moreover, briquettes made of biocomposites of agricultural residues had a better fuel consistency and burning efficacy than the ones made up of single constituents. The results indicate that biocomposite charcoal briquettes show promise as an environmentally friendly and sustainable substitute of firewood and coal. This strategy is the way to offer a viable avenue of transforming agricultural wastes into clean energy sources that will serve the decentralized power facilities and help achieve the sustainable energy transition and resource efficiency.