Characterization and production of banana crop and rice processing waste briquettes

With the purpose of adding value to the waste of banana crop and rice processing, banana leaves and pseudostem, and rice husk were prepared and characterized through proximate and ultimate chemical analyses, high heating value (HHV), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The prepared waste was then compacted into briquettes in a hydraulic press at 18 MPa for 1 s. The resulting briquettes were characterized through the same analyses used in waste and through mechanical compressive strength. The waste moisture content, between 8 and 15%, were adequate for briquetting and combustion. The briquettes exhibited the maximum energy release under combustion at temperatures that were lower than the waste's. The rice husk and its briquettes had a lower energy release in comparison with the other waste. The HHV of the waste ranged from 15 to 18 MJ/kg. The compaction of the waste resulted in an increase of the HHV for the rice husk and the briquettes presented the highest compressive strength: 19 MPa. From these three waste samples that were studied, the banana leaves presented the best features, properties, and potential for generating energy as briquettes. (c) 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 37: 1266-1273, 2018