Evaluation of Combustion and Mechanical Properties of Biobriquettes produced from sugarcane bagasse and sawdust with organic binders

Study's Excerpt: - This study demonstrates that blending sugarcane bagasse, sawdust, and potato peels, followed by carbonization, significantly enhances the energy and mechanical performance of biomass briquettes. - Carbonized samples achieved higher heating values (18.5–20.5 MJ/kg), greater compressive strength (73–74 N/cm²), and faster ignition compared to their uncarbonized counterparts. - The findings highlight carbonized sawdust-rich blends as promising sustainable biofuels with strong potential for domestic and industrial energy applications. Full Abstract: The valorization of agricultural residues into high-quality solid biofuels presents a sustainable pathway for waste reduction and renewable energy generation. This study aims to assess the combustion and mechanical properties of biomass briquettes made from sugarcane bagasse, sawdust using waste food, and potato peels as binders. It also compares carbonized and uncarbonized samples of these briquettes. Proximate analysis revealed significant differences in the evaluated parameters among the raw feedstocks, with sawdust exhibiting higher fixed carbon (59.53%) and combustion index (596.49), while bagasse showed higher volatile matter (81.24%) and ignition index (2.73). Carbonization substantially improved the HHV of the briquettes, increasing from an uncarbonized range of 13.5-14.5 MJ/kg to 18.5-20.5 MJ/kg for carbonised samples, with the highest HHV obtained from a 30:40:30 blend (bagasse, sawdust, and potato peels). Similarly, mechanical properties enhanced with carbonization, with compressive strength rising from 66-67 N/cm² to 73-74 N/cm², and shatter and water resistances improving by 4-10%. Combustion tests indicated that ignition occurs more quickly (37–40 seconds) in carbonized briquettes, while sustained combustion proceeds at a rate of 4.4–4.8 g/min. The distinctive feature of this work lies in the combustion improvements achieved through optimal feedstock blending and carbonization. Overall, carbonized briquettes, particularly with higher proportions of sawdust in the mix, demonstrated favourable energy density, strength, and combustion stability, suitable for both domestic and industrial applications.