Physical, chemical, and mechanical properties of two-age Bambusa tuldoides briquettes

The use of natural resources as an energy source is a well-studied alternative to fossil fuels. Some studies present bamboo as promising biomass for energy generation, and its transformation into briquettes can be a way to take advantage of its production residues. The objective of this study was to determine the physical and chemical properties of two bamboo ages (two and seven years old) of Bambusa vulgaris species, to evaluate the quality of biomass and its briquettes for energy generation. Regarding the higher heating value, there was no difference between treatments means values, which were 17.8 and 18.2 MJ kg^-1 for two and seven years old, respectively, and these values were slightly below those found in the literature for Bambusa spp. The mechanical durability was of low quality for both treatments at the testing conditions, so they are not recommended for briquette production. The results of the proximate analysis were quite near to the literature and reinforce the positive qualities of bamboo for biofuel usage.