Title: Energy potential assessment and characterization of fuel briquettes made from Cameroonian agricultural crop residues

Abstract

Scope and objectives: For sustainable development purposes, it may be advisable to substitute fuelwood for fuel briquettes in household cooking in countries with high agricultural potential as Cameroon. The objectives of this study are firstly to assess the theoretical energy potential which could be recovered from agricultural residues for fuel briquettes production; prepare and characterize fuel briquettes using banana peels, rattan waste, coconut shells, palm oil shells and sugarcane bagasse; finally analyse the benefits and barriers of briquetting conversion of these residues in Cameroon. Methods: The Residues-to-Product Ratio (RPR) method was used to calculate the energy potential. Fuel briquettes were prepared through a conventional method and evaluated by proximate analysis using American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standard, European Committee for Standardization (CEN) standard and Thermo-Gravimetric Analysis (TGA). Results: The study carried out shows that briquetting conversion of these residues could produce 7 706 260 tons.yr-1 of fuel briquettes, the energy potential value is about 106 PJ.yr-1. Results of mass reduction study show that the losses are more important for banana peels (97.98%) and sugarcane bagasse (96%). Bulk density of briquettes produced is in the range 0.470–0.851 cm3/g; results of proximate analysis show that high calorific values of briquettes produced are 14.25, 16.98, 30.07, 32.16 and 25.93 MJ/kg for palm oil shells, banana peels, rattan waste, coconut shells and sugarcane bagasse respectively; ash content has values in the range 7.44–11.95%, and moisture content is relatively higher than other agricultural residues especially banana peels and sugarcane bagasse. Conclusion: It is concluded that availability of agricultural residues in that country gives an important potential for briquette production from biomass crops resources. It would interest to valorise this potential considering political, logistical and seasonal crop constraints.