Renewable Energy Resources and Technologies
Toyese Friday Oyewusi; Gabriel Alebiowu; Elizabeth Funmilayo Aransiola; Ayowumi Rita Soji-Adekunle; Busayo Sunday Adeboye
Abstract
Briquettes from agro-residues have been promoted as a better alternative to firewood and charcoals for heating and cooking in the rural communities. In this light, a study was carried out to investigate the effect of pretreatment methods on physical properties and heating values of briquettes produced ...
Read More
Briquettes from agro-residues have been promoted as a better alternative to firewood and charcoals for heating and cooking in the rural communities. In this light, a study was carried out to investigate the effect of pretreatment methods on physical properties and heating values of briquettes produced from corncob. To accomplish this work, an experiment was designed as a 2 × 3 × 3 × 3 completely randomized with three replicates. The parameters are pretreatment methods (carbonized and uncarbonized), binder types (cassava, corn, and gelatin), binder concentrations (10, 20, 30 %), and compacting pressures (50, 100, and 150 kPa). A charcoal kiln was fabricated to obtain the pretreatment through pyrolysis and a punch and die was also fabricated to facilitate briquette densification. The physical properties tested were limited to moisture content (MC), density and compressive strength and were determined using a conventional method. The heating value of the briquettes produced was determined using bomb calorimeter. The results demonstrated that averagemoisture content ranged between 5.29-6.58 % and 12.75-13.72 %, mean relaxed density varied from 813-925kgm-3 and 963-1166 kgm-3, compressive strength ranged between 2.27-5.07 MPa and 5.97-10.12 MPa, andheating value ranged between 28.85-32.36 MJkg-1 and 27.58-28.80 MJkg-1 for carbonized and uncarbonizedbriquettes, respectively. Briquettes produced from carbonized corncob had a better moisture content and heating value, while briquettes produced from uncarbonized corncob had higher density and compressive strength. The study shows that pretreatment methods under different binder types and concentrations and the compacting pressure significantly affected the briquettes physical properties and heating values. Therefore, this technology can be successfully applied in rural off-grid areas by the government and other stakeholders in the energy sector as part of renewable energy technologies.
Renewable Energy Resources and Technologies
Ayowumi Rita Soji-Adekunle; Betiku Eriola; Abraham A. Asere
Abstract
This study used ternary substrates consisting of honne, neem, and yellow oleander (HONOYO) oil blend to produce methyl-esters for sustainability of raw materials for biodiesel synthesis. A biomass-based catalyst from calcined mixed agro-wastes consisting of kolanut pod, cocoa pod, and plantain peel ash ...
Read More
This study used ternary substrates consisting of honne, neem, and yellow oleander (HONOYO) oil blend to produce methyl-esters for sustainability of raw materials for biodiesel synthesis. A biomass-based catalyst from calcined mixed agro-wastes consisting of kolanut pod, cocoa pod, and plantain peel ash was employed to transesterify the blend. A two-step method was adopted to convert HONOYO into methyl-esters. Taguchi L9 experimental design tool was used to ascertain the interactive effects of microwave irradiation power (W), Methanol/oil ratio (MeOH), time (min), and agro-wastes synthesized catalyst ASC (wt %) on the yield of methyl-esters from HONOYO. Results demonstrated that at 3:1 MeOH, microwave power of 150 W, ASC of 1.5 wt %, and reaction time of 1 minute, a yield of 80.96 % was achieved. HONOYOB satisfied ASTM D6751 and EN 14214 standards. Performance evaluation of the process input variables suggests weight of ASC as the most significant process parameters for HONOYOB yield. This work authenticates that biomass catalyst from agricultural wastes can adequately be applied to synthesis biodiesel effectively from blends of non-edible oils to supplement fossil diesel.
