The quality of sugarcane briquettes produced with cornstarch binder

Abstract

A growing demand for renewable energy makes the production of briquettes a good alternative source of energy. This study aims to evaluate the effect of using commercial cornstarch as a binder in the production of briquettes from sugarcane bagasse. Analysis of specific weight, gross calorific value, moisture content, volatile and ash content were performed for both materials. Also, particle size characterization was performed for the biomass. The mixtures of raw materials determined the treatments: T1 (only bagasse), T2 (bagasse + 2.5 % starch), T3 (bagasse + 5 % starch) and T4 (bagasse + 10 % starch) which were then compressed in hydraulic press without heating. Aspects of mechanical resistance and longitudinal expansion of the produced briquettes were measured. A reduction of 17 times over the material density was obtained. Values of ash and volatile for sugarcane bagasse were 3.9% and 87.7%, while for starch were 0.09% and 94.65%, respectively. The gross calorific value was of 3,593 kcal.kg- 1 (sugarcane bagasse) and 3,637 kcal·kg-1 (starch). The highest mechanical strength was found for T1 (0.607 MPa), which presented lowest moisture content and expansion values (10.81% and 14.9%, respectively). It can be concluded that the cornstarch did not act as a binder in the production of briquettes.