Njenga, Mary
- University of Nairobi
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.
Community Groups; Briquette; Cooking Fuel; Calorific Value; Indoor Air Pollution
Journal of Biobased Materials and Bioenergy
2013, volym: 7, nummer: 3, sidor: 315-322
Utgivare: AMER SCIENTIFIC PUBLISHERS
SDG11 Hållbara städer och samhällen
Skogsvetenskap
Trävetenskap
https://res.slu.se/id/publ/50291