PHYSICOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND FUEL POTENTIAL OF CHARCOAL BRIQUETTES FROM CANDLENUT AND PEANUT SHELL MIXTURES

The exhaustion of fossil fuel reserves has heightened the demand for alternative and renewable energy sources. Biomass-derived charcoal briquettes represent a viable alternative, providing a sustainable approach to transform agricultural waste into effective fuel. This study examines the physicochemical features of charcoal briquettes produced from different mixing ratios of candlenut shells and peanut shells—specifically 60:30, 45:45, and 30:60 by weight. The briquettes were assessed for moisture content (3.429%–5.073%), ash content (9.574%–13.645%), volatile matter (8.929%–13.459%), and fixed carbon (67.823%–78.068%). The physical characteristics assessed included density (0.609–0.678 g/cm³), calorific value (2651.210–3039.258 cal/g), and combustion duration (15–19 minutes). The results demonstrate that the briquettes predominantly conform to specified quality criteria, except for calorific value, which is marginally below optimal levels. These findings validate the viability of utilising candlenut and peanut shells as feedstock for charcoal briquettes, offering an environmentally sustainable substitute for fossil fuels while contributing to the mitigation of agricultural waste. The study endorses Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7: Affordable and Clean Energy, by advocating for the advancement of renewable biofuel derived from locally accessible biomass resources. In addition, the results can serve as instructional material for thermochemistry, particularly in calorimetric calculations, thereby supporting both energy sustainability and science education.