ABSTRACT

Biomass, a renewable energy source derived from industrial, agricultural and forestry waste, includes substantial by-products from Arecanut and Eucalyptus plantations. This study explores the potential of these residues for briquette production, offering a sustainable approach to waste management and energy utilization.
Arecanut plantation, generates between 3.77 to 8.04 tons of waste per acre annually. This waste primarily includes husks, leaves, poles and sheaths, with 66.67 to 69.23 per cent of sheaths being utilized. The remaining waste is disposed of through various methods, including burning (25-28%), composting (25.49-32.14%), mulching (14.28-25%) and construction (18.75-28%). Similarly, Eucalyptus plantations, primarily grown for cellulose in paper production, produce 3.16 to 5.28 tons of waste per acre each year. Sticks are nearly fully utilized (93.72-100%), but the usage of bark and leaves varies, ranging from (13.41 to 65.31%) for bark and (4.09 to 12.96%) for leaves, with burning being the predominant disposal method (53-68.24%).
Proximate analysis of Arecanut and Eucalyptus residues reveals their suitability for briquette production, showing ideal moisture content (7.30-12.16%), high volatile matter (72.26-79.59%), low ash content (3.70-8.01%) and fixed carbon levels (3.31- 10.88%). These characteristics indicate that the residues can be effectively densified into briquettes, providing a viable alternative energy source. Briquette formulations showed varying qualities, with F3 exhibiting the highest bulk density (1.07 g/cm³), F3 (75% Eucalyptus + 25% Arecanut) the lowest moisture content (6.14%) and F5 (50% Eucalyptus + 50% Arecanut) the highest ash content (13.30%). Formulation F1(100% Eucalyptus) had the highest volatile matter (74.22%), while F5(50% Eucalyptus + 50% Arecanut), displayed the highest fixed carbon content (14.32%) and calorific value (5487.09 kcal/kg), making it the optimal choice for briquette production.
These findings highlight the potential of utilizing Arecanut and Eucalyptus residues for efficient and sustainable briquette production, contributing to improved waste management practices and enhanced resource efficiency in energy production.