Umudike Journal of Engineering and Technology

The study assessed the effect of sizes, mixing ratios and binders on briquettes produced from mixed sawdust and charcoal bonded with two different binders (cassava starch gel and orange waste). The two materials (charcoal and sawdust) were sieved to sizes 0.2 mm, 0.4 mm, 0.6 mm, 0.8 mm and 1 mm, using a standard test sieves in accordance with British standard. They were mixed at ratios 50:50, 60:40, 70:30, 80:20, 90:10; sawdust to charcoal and binders were at 16.6%. ASTM methods were used to determine the briquettes proximate and ultimate analysis. Their heating value was determined using the Gouthal Formula. The lowest moisture contents 3.89% was found in briquettes size 0.2 mm with ratio 50:50 using cassava starch gel while 6.03% was recorded for orange wastes binder at size 0.2 mm with ratio 50:50, the highest volatile matter 48.5% was observed at size 0.2 mm with ratio 50:50 using cassava starch binder while 40.5% was recorded for orange waste binder at size 0.2 mm with ratio 50:50, the lowest ash contents 3.5% was at size 0.2 mm with ratio 50:50 using cassava starch binder while 5.5% was observed for orange waste at size 0.2 mm with ratio 50:50, the highest fixed carbon 64.55% was found at size 0.2 mm with ratio 90:10 using cassava starch gel while 65.30% was found for orange waste binder at size 0.2 mm with ratio 90:10, the highest heating value 3.90 KJ/g was calculated from briquettes size 0.2 mm with ratio 60:40 using cassava starch while for orange wastes binder was 30.03 KJ/g at size 0.2 mm with ratio 50:50.