Synthesis and Analysis of The Production Process of Briquettes Made From Lignocellulosic Residues and Grease

Objective: The objective of this research is to analyze the technical, economic, and environmental feasibility of using lignocellulosic residues and grease for the production of briquettes, proposing a model for an industrial plant with a capacity of 26,250 tons per year. Theoretical Framework: The increasing generation of urban and industrial solid waste, such as rice husks, sugarcane bagasse, and residual lubricating oil, represents a significant environmental challenge. Briquetting emerges as a sustainable solution, allowing the reuse of these wastes into energy alternatives that contribute to mitigating environmental impacts and reducing dependence on fossil fuels. Method: The methodology included linear programming using the Generalized Reduced Gradient (GRG) method to optimize the briquette composition, state trees to map technological flowcharts, and heuristic rules to select equipment. Additionally, a preliminary economic analysis based on the Venture Profit criterion was performed. Results and Discussion: The study identified the optimal briquette composition as 75.23% rice husk, 14.57% sugarcane bagasse, 4.16% tree pruning residue, and 6.04% residual lubricating oil. The economic analysis indicated an estimated profit of USD 206,341.23 over 10 years, confirming the economic and environmental feasibility of the enterprise. Research Implications: This study demonstrates that low-value waste can be transformed into products with high energy and economic potential. Future research should focus on optimizing flowcharts and experimentally validating briquettes to ensure their quality and market competitiveness.