Production and characterization of briquettes from Panicum maximum Jacq. (guinea grass) and cassava peel waste

The heavy dependence on wood-derived fuels for both domestic and commercial applications, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, has significantly accelerated deforestation as trees are cut down to meet energy demands. To address this issue, the conversion of biomass residues into biofuels has been explored. Therefore, this study aims to examine the effects of combining Panicum maximum Jacq. (guinea grass) with cassava peel waste as available biomass resources in the region for briquette production and its potential use as a solid fuel. Key analyses included density, proximate analysis, calorific value, and combustion test. Briquettes were produced with varying ratios of cassava peel to guinea grass (100:0, 80:20, 60:40, and 0:100), where cassava peel was the main material. Briquettes were densified using a manual press with a stainless-steel mold measuring 50 mm in diameter and 70 mm in height. Optimal densification conditions were determined to be a compaction pressure of 10 MPa, a temperature of 120°C, and a moisture content of 10–12 %. The results indicated that increasing guinea grass content lowers calorific value but improves mechanical strength. The 80:20 ratio yielded a higher heating value of 17.10 MJ/kg with a friability of 0.7 %, while the 60:40 ratio had a value of 16.91 MJ/kg and a friability of 0.45 %. The results of the combustion test indicated that briquettes made from a combination of cassava peel waste and guinea grass are viable and provide better fuel efficiency than firewood.