The Effect of Variations in Coconut Shells and Water Hyacinth and Variations of Particle Size on the Characteristics of Briquettes

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 40 views

The Effect of Variations in Coconut Shells and Water Hyacinth and Variations of Particle Size on the Characteristics of Briquettes

Introduction

The world is facing a severe energy crisis, with non-renewable energy sources becoming increasingly scarce. This has led to a growing need for alternative energy sources, one of which is biomass. Biomass is a renewable energy source that can be derived from organic materials such as plants, animals, and waste. Among the various biomass fuels, briquettes have emerged as a promising alternative energy source. Briquettes are made from compressed biomass materials, which can be burned to produce heat and energy. This study focuses on the production of briquettes from water hyacinth and coconut shell, two abundant and environmentally friendly materials.

Background

Water hyacinth and coconut shell are two materials that are widely available and can be used as raw materials for briquettes. Water hyacinth is a aquatic plant that is often considered as a weed, while coconut shell is a waste product from the coconut industry. Both materials are rich in carbon and can be converted into energy through combustion. However, the quality of briquettes produced from these materials depends on various factors, including the ratio of water hyacinth to coconut shell and the particle size of the raw materials.

Methodology

In this study, we investigated the effect of variations in the ratio of water hyacinth to coconut shell and particle size on the characteristics of briquettes. We tested four different ratios of water hyacinth to coconut shell (1:1, 1:2, 1:3, and 1:4) and three different particle sizes (10 mesh, 42 mesh, and 60 mesh). We also used tapioca glue as a binding agent, which accounted for 10% of the weight of the raw materials. The ratio of water hyacinth to coconut shell was also examined with variations in raw material content (5%, 10%, and 15%). The measurement results were then compared with quality parameters in accordance with Indonesian National Standards (SNI), Japanese, British, and American standards.

Results

Our study found that the ideal briquette composition was a mixture of water hyacinth and coconut shell with a ratio of 1:4 and a particle size of 60 mesh. The resulting briquettes had the highest heat value of 6,851,331 cal/g, lowest ash content of 8.1918%, low water content of 1.0140%, evaporation rate of substances 13.7890%, density value of 0.9836 g/cm³, combustion rate 2.9 x 10^-3 g/sec, and compressive strength 11,3234 kg/cm². These results indicate that the resulting briquettes meet SNI, Japanese, British, and American standards, even though the compression pressure of briquettes is only in accordance with British standards.

Discussion

The briquettes produced from a mixture of water hyacinth and coconut shell show great potential as an alternative energy source. With a high heat value, this briquette can be an efficient choice for heating needs. The use of abundant and environmentally friendly materials such as water hyacinth and coconut shells makes this process more sustainable. Variations in particle size also play an important role in influencing the quality of briquettes. Smaller particle sizes generally increase the density and cohesiveness of briquettes, which impact on combustion efficiency. This study shows that with the appropriate ratio and size of the particle, the briquettes can meet the established quality standards.

Conclusion

Through this study, it can be concluded that the combination of water hyacinth and coconut shell with an appropriate ratio and the right particle size can produce high-quality briquettes. This is not only useful as an alternative energy source but also as a solution to reduce organic waste. Thus, the development of briquettes from biomass like this should be considered as a step towards future energy sustainability.

Recommendations

Based on the findings of this study, we recommend the following:

Further research is needed to optimize the ratio of water hyacinth to coconut shell and particle size to produce high-quality briquettes.
The use of tapioca glue as a binding agent should be explored further to improve the quality of briquettes.
The development of briquettes from biomass like this should be considered as a step towards future energy sustainability.
The use of water hyacinth and coconut shells as raw materials for briquettes should be promoted as a sustainable and environmentally friendly solution.

Limitations

This study has several limitations, including:

The study was conducted on a small scale, and further research is needed to confirm the findings.
The study only investigated the effect of variations in the ratio of water hyacinth to coconut shell and particle size on the characteristics of briquettes.
The study did not investigate the economic viability of producing briquettes from biomass like this.

Future Research Directions

Future research should focus on the following areas:

Optimizing the ratio of water hyacinth to coconut shell and particle size to produce high-quality briquettes.
Exploring the use of other binding agents to improve the quality of briquettes.
Investigating the economic viability of producing briquettes from biomass like this.
Developing new technologies to improve the efficiency and sustainability of briquette production.

References

Indonesian National Standards (SNI) for Briquettes.
Japanese Standards for Briquettes.
British Standards for Briquettes.
American Standards for Briquettes.
Various research papers on briquette production and biomass energy.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the Effect of Variations in Coconut Shells and Water Hyacinth and Variations of Particle Size on the Characteristics of Briquettes

Q: What is the purpose of this study?

A: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of variations in the ratio of water hyacinth to coconut shell and particle size on the characteristics of briquettes.

Q: What are the main raw materials used in this study?

A: The main raw materials used in this study are water hyacinth and coconut shell.

Q: What is the significance of using water hyacinth and coconut shell as raw materials?

A: Water hyacinth and coconut shell are abundant and environmentally friendly materials that can be used as raw materials for briquettes. They are rich in carbon and can be converted into energy through combustion.

Q: What is the ideal ratio of water hyacinth to coconut shell?

A: The ideal ratio of water hyacinth to coconut shell is 1:4.

Q: What is the ideal particle size for briquettes?

A: The ideal particle size for briquettes is 60 mesh.

Q: What is the effect of particle size on the quality of briquettes?

A: Smaller particle sizes generally increase the density and cohesiveness of briquettes, which impact on combustion efficiency.

Q: What is the heat value of the briquettes produced in this study?

A: The heat value of the briquettes produced in this study is 6,851,331 cal/g.

Q: Do the briquettes produced in this study meet the established quality standards?

A: Yes, the briquettes produced in this study meet the established quality standards, including Indonesian National Standards (SNI), Japanese, British, and American standards.

Q: What is the significance of this study?

A: This study shows that the combination of water hyacinth and coconut shell with an appropriate ratio and the right particle size can produce high-quality briquettes. This is not only useful as an alternative energy source but also as a solution to reduce organic waste.

Q: What are the limitations of this study?

A: This study has several limitations, including the small scale of the study and the limited investigation of the economic viability of producing briquettes from biomass like this.

Q: What are the future research directions?

A: Future research should focus on optimizing the ratio of water hyacinth to coconut shell and particle size to produce high-quality briquettes, exploring the use of other binding agents, investigating the economic viability of producing briquettes from biomass like this, and developing new technologies to improve the efficiency and sustainability of briquette production.

Q: What are the potential applications of this study?

A: The findings of this study can be applied to the production of briquettes from biomass like this, which can be used as an alternative energy source, a solution to reduce organic waste, and a sustainable and environmentally friendly solution.

Q: What are the potential benefits of this study?

A: The potential benefits of this study include the production of high-quality briquettes, the reduction of organic waste, the promotion of sustainable and environmentally friendly energy sources, and the improvement of energy efficiency and sustainability.

Q: What are the potential challenges of this study?

A: The potential challenges of this study include the limited availability of raw materials, the high cost of production, the need for further research and development, and the potential environmental impacts of briquette production.