Bio-briquettes production from coconut shell and corn cobs as a renewable energy alternative and climate change mitigation strategy

Climate change represents a major global issue, primarily driven by the overreliance on fossil fuels. Agricultural activities produce numerous byproducts that can negatively impact the environment if not managed effectively. The production of bio-briquettes represents a method to enhance the added value of agricultural waste materials. Bio-briquettes provide effective applications for reducing fossil fuel consumption and mitigating climate change. This study aimed to produce bio-briquettes utilizing corncob and coconut shell waste with varying particle sizes. The experimental methodology involved briquette production utilizing two raw materials: corn cob and coconut shell, along with three particle sizes of 45, 60, and 80 mesh. The calorific value is between 6,249 and 7,061 cal/g, moisture content ranges from 4.05% to 5.78%, ash content varies from 14.39% to 28.6%, volatile matter is between 25.07% and 31.63%, fixed carbon ranges from 38.78% to 48.5%, and density is between 0.60 g/cm³ and 1.17 g/cm³. The data on bio-briquettes properties indicates that bio-briquettes produced from corn cob with a particle size of 60 mesh exhibit the closest alignment with the Indonesian National Standard (SNI), though further enhancements are necessary. All produced bio-briquettes can serve as an alternative energy source; however, they generate a lot amount of ash residue.