EVALUATING THE BIO-ENERGY POTENTIAL OF SUGARCANE BIOMASS BRIQUETTES

The study was conducted to assess the conversion potentiality of sugarcane bio-mass into bioenergy through briquetting. Samples of sugarcane bagasse, sugarcane trash and a 50:50 mixture of sugarcane bagasse and trash were used to produce briquettes. An automated briquetting press with a capacity of 150-200 kg/hr was employed to produce cylindrical briquettes of 100 mm length. The quality parameters of briquettes such as moisture content, bulk density, compressive strength, shatter resistance, resistance to water penetration,volatile matter, fixed carbon, and calorific value were determined. Among the various briquettes investigated, briquettes made of bagasse have low ash content (5.32%), high shatter resistance (99.4%), and a high calorific value (15.15 MJ/kg), all of which are desirable characteristics for fuel combustion. However, the briquettes produced from bagasse-trash mixture were statistically on par with the briquettes of bagasse alone. Thus, briquettes produced from bagasse alone and bagasse-trash combination can be recommended for use in boilers in the food processing sector as an eco-friendly biofuel, which in turn helps in curbing environmental pollution. Further, there is a scope for entrepreneurship development by converting sugarcane biomass to briquettes, which would create employment for the rural youth.