Energy and Mechanical Characterization of Briquettes Made from Waste

Resumo

The biomass briquettes can produce a higher quality solid biofuel than the residual biomass material. The objective of this work was to evaluate the use of paraffin as a binder in the sorghum briquettes formation. Three treatments were used: (T1) 100% sorghum + without heating; (T2) 96% sorghum + 4% paraffin + without heating and (T3) 96% sorghum + 4% paraffin + heating. Some biomass characteristics were observed such as: moisture content, bulk density and energy characteristics (fixed carbon, volatile, ashes and high heating value). The mechanical characteristics (expansion, maximum strength at the moment of rupture and friability) were also evaluated. The high heating value of the biomass without and with paraffin were 4446 kcal.kg^-1 and 7.144,96 kcal.kg^-1, respectively. T3 provided better results with a size stabilization after 6 hours, a mechanical resistance of 0.75 MPa and a friability index of 0.96%. All treatments were classified as very poorly friable materials. The briquetting process improved the biomass density and decreased the moisture content minimizing transport and storage costs.