Fuel Properties of Briquettes Made from Acacia Mangium Pods and Plantain (Musa Paradisiaca) Peduncles with Cassava Starch Binder

This study used cassava starch binder to produce and investigate briquettes made from plantain peduncles and Acacia mangium pods. It examined fuel properties and the effects of binder viscosities (8cP, 14cP, 29cP) and quantities (30g, 50g, 70g) on briquettes’ physico-mechanical properties. A. mangium pods exhibited superior fuel characteristics: higher gross calorific value (17.68 ± 0.13 MJ/kg), lower ash content (3.60%), and higher volatile matter content (90.35%) compared to plantain peduncles’ 12.58±0.37MJkg, 31.60% and 63.67% respectively. Plantain peduncle briquettes exhibited higher relaxed density (504.09-565.17 kg/m³), superior compressive strength in the cleft (8.50-19.99 N/mm), and greater impact resistance index (166.66-500%) compared to A. mangium pod briquettes’ (1.82-4.40N/mm) and (125-166.66%) respectively. A. mangium pod briquettes were more prone to expansion, with length increases of 16.35-42.13% and diameter increases of 0.88-2.45%, compared to plantain peduncle briquettes’ length increases of 1.43-30% and diameter increases of 1.06-2.16%. Importantly, statistical analysis underscored the significant (p < 0.05) influence of binder properties on the physico-mechanical properties of the briquettes. The impact of binder properties was distinct for each biomass type, with more intricate relationships observed for A. mangium pod briquettes. Optimizing binder properties enhances briquette quality. Both biomass types have the potential for briquette production.Keywords: Plantain peduncles, Acacia mangium pods, binder viscosity, binder quantity and centipoise (cP)