Fundamental properties analysis of rice husk to explore its potential as a bio-briquettes fuel

Abstract

The utilization of bio-briquette fuel for rural kitchens would reduce dependence on firewood and, subsequently, air pollution. To fabricate bio-briquettes from biomass, it is necessary to pay attention to the basic properties of the materials used in order to understand their potential as a fuel. This paper particularly examines the basic characteristics of rice husk biomass waste in terms of its physical and chemical properties as a first step to determine its potential as a bio-briquette material. The results showed that the physical properties of rice husks are dominated by volatile matter 61.18 wt.%, indicating an excellent fuel reactivity during devolatilization. The calorific value of 14.63 MJ/kg was observed, indicating that the energy that would be released during the combustion process would be sufficient. The chemical characteristics of rice husk showed that the carbon, oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen, and hydrogen content were 35.85; 31.22; 0.12; 0.98, and 5.75 wt.%, respectively. Rice husk is dominated by C and O elements that are believed to be able to effectively contribute to increasing fuel volatility.