THE EFFECT OF MOISTURE CONTENT ON RAW MATERIAL OF COCONUT COIR DUST AND RICE HUSK MIXING BRIQUETTE AND MARKET POTENTIAL

K K Saha, M M Hossain, C K Saha, R Bhatacharya and M K Hasan
Journal of the Sylhet Agricultural University, Volume 1, Issue 2, 2014, Pages 307-313

Abstract:

This research work was conducted on the effect of moisture content on raw material of briquette made of coconut coir dust mixed with rice husk at different ratio. This study sought to assess the effective moisture content of mixing briquette production and to establish the demand and willingness of potential users of briquette from coir dust and rice husk. The briquettes were prepared on screw press extruder briquetting machine from raw material. The prepared briquettes after sun drying were subjected to various tests for assessing the quality of briquette fuel. This was done prior to the distribution of the briquette to potential users to collaborate their views. It was observed that briquette made moisture content at 10.8% and 11.9% (wet basis), from mixed coconut coir dust and rice husk at the ratio of 20:80, 40:60 and 50:50. Briquette made moisture content at 10.8%, from mixed coconut coir dust and rice husk at the ratio of 20:80, 40:60 and 50:50 had desirable properties as compared to briquette made, moisture content at 11.9% (wet basis). The compressive strength, percent of resistance to water penetration and calorific value of briquette of mixing ratio of 20:80,40:60 and 50:50 at 10.8% were found 115kg cm-2, 96kg cm-2, 82kg cm-2, 89%,86%,78% and 4532 kcal kg-1, 4243 kcal kg-1, 3657kcal kg-1, respectively. In case of briquette at moisture content at 11.9% (wet basis), the values were 110kg cm-2,90kg cm-2,78kg cm-2, 88%,84%,74% and 4467 kcal kg-1, 4043 kcal kg-1,3457kcal kg-1, respectively. A survey was undertaken to assess the willingness of the potential users to use the briquette. Fifteen respondents were purposively selected from tea stall and the hotel for the survey. Responses from the survey indicated that the briquette of mixing ratio of 20:80, 40:60 at 10.8% M.C and 11.9% M.C were easy to ignite, had a long burning time and good heat output than rice husk briquette. Finally 93% of the respondents indicated their willingness to use the briquette of mixing ratio 20:80 at 10.8% M.C, if the price was comparable to rice husk briquette.

Keywords:

Briquette, coconut coir dust, resistance to water penetration, user acceptability


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K K Saha, M M Hossain, C K Saha, R Bhatacharya and M K Hasan. 2014. THE EFFECT OF MOISTURE CONTENT ON RAW MATERIAL OF COCONUT COIR DUST AND RICE HUSK MIXING BRIQUETTE AND MARKET POTENTIAL, Journal of the Sylhet Agricultural University 1(2): 307-313.