Abstract:
Eichhornia crassipes has a high cellulose and hemicellulose content, which are easily converted to simple sugars, thus
making the plant suitable for the production of biofuel briquettes. The main purpose of this proposed work, therefore,
was to investigate the production of bio briquettes from E. crassipes. The plant was harvested from a wastewater efuent
management system, chopped, sun-dried and pulverized to a particle size of <5 mm and mixed with various binders
(Eucalyptus globulus leaves powder, molasses and phytoplankton scum). The binders were appropriately prepared and
added to E. crassipes at the ratios of 10%, 20% and 30%. The quality of biofuel briquettes was evaluated using compressed
density, relaxed density, water resistance, durability and calorifc values (CV) parameters and compared to those of
charcoal briquettes already on the market. The results showed a water resistance capacity of 45%, relaxation ratios of
between 1.08 and 1.33, CV of 1148.35 kJ/kg for 20% molasses-based briquettes, CV of 1090.43 kJ/kg for 20% E. globulus
leaf-based briquettes and CV of 1422.97 kJ/kg for charcoal-based briquettes. In conclusion, therefore, E. crassipes may
become a viable raw material for producing quality biofuel briquettes that are durable with the desired calorifc value
and may be able to withstand mechanical handling and be useful for household and cottage industries locally.
