Abstract

Fuel briquettes are made by compressing biomass material into a uniform solid and present an opportunity for good quality cooking fuel. The study evaluated the quality of locally produced fuel briquettes in Kenya and their combustion properties, chemical composition and emissions of gases and fine particulate matter. Briquette made from charcoal dust bonded with paper, soil or corn starch and sawdust briquettes bonded with gum arabica were studied. Charcoal dust briquettes bonded with corn starch or paper had the highest calorific values of 23.6 kJ/g and 21.4 kJ/g respectively. Contaminants comprising of chromium, mercury and lead were high in briquettes made from material sourced from garbage heaps in informal settlements and dumpsites. Charcoal dust briquettes bonded with soil was the safest in terms of indoor air concentrations of carbon monoxide and fine particulate matter when burned. Burning sawdust briquettes bonded with gum arabica caused the release of high concentrations of fine particulate matter. When briquettes intended as cooking fuel are produced, the effect of raw materials should be taken into account.

Keywords

Community Groups; Briquette; Cooking Fuel; Calorific Value; Indoor Air Pollution

Published in

Journal of Biobased Materials and Bioenergy
2013, Volume: 7, number: 3, pages: 315-322
Publisher: AMER SCIENTIFIC PUBLISHERS

SLU Authors

• Njenga, Mary

  • University of Nairobi

• Sundberg, Cecilia

  • Department of Energy and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Jirjis, Raida

  • Department of Energy and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG11 Sustainable cities and communities


UKÄ Subject classification

Forest Science
Wood Science


Publication Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1166/jbmb.2013.1355

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/50291