An Evaluation of Briquettes from Sawdust and Corn Starch Binder

Abstract

The briquettes were produced mechanically with a hydraulic operated briquetting machine using sawdust and corn starch as binder. This was achieved by mixing 30ml, 40ml, 50ml of corn starch with 100g, 150g and 200g of sawdust with 75ml, 100ml, 125ml of water in different combinations for agglomeration to produce the briquettes. It was replicated ten times. The briquettes were further evaluated in terms calorific value, boiling time, fuel consumption rate, fuel efficiency and cooking efficiency. The data were analysed statistical using Microsoft Excel 2007. The results showed that as the volume of the binder increased there was a decrease in the boiling time and fuel consumption rate while there was an increase in calorific value, fuel efficiency and cooking efficiency. Of all the regression models tested only the polynomial model gave a perfect relationship with R² = 1. From these results it could be deduced that there was significance difference (p=5%) in the performance of the briquettes.