Evaluation of Paper and Cardboard Waste and Their Possible Applications in Producing Fuel Briquettes

The increasing generation of paper and cardboard waste poses significant environmental challenges, necessitating innovative waste management strategies. This study evaluated the potential of utilizing paper and cardboard waste as feedstock for producing fuel briquettes, a sustainable alternative to conventional fossil fuels. The research investigated the physical and chemical properties of various paper and cardboard waste types, including their moisture content, calorific value, fixed carbon content and ash content of the briquettes. Moisture Content is relatively low at 3.80% with the alkali treated briquettes whereas acidic-treated briquettes are slightly higher at 4.18% this increased affected combustion efficiency, 40.0% fixed carbon indicated a significant portion of the briquette is made up of carbon that can attributed to heat generation showing some variability when treated with acidic solution whereas from alkali treated briquettes is higher at 45.99%. The study also explores the economic viability and environmental benefits of this approach, highlighted its potential to reduce firewood consumption and contributed to renewable energy production. The findings suggested that integrating paper and cardboard waste into fuel briquette production and promotes sustainable energy solutions, paving the way for further research and development in this field.