Charcoal Briquette Production from Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) Shells using Cornick Industry Wastewater as Binder through a Torrefaction Process

Abstract

The torrefaction process was applied to the peanut shells to produce charcoal briquette using Cornick industry wastewater as a binder and a charcoal briquetting press. The results showed that the conversion of peanut shell to biochar was 30.1 wt.%. The density and heating values of the three treatments with charcoal to binder ratio of 80:20 (T1), 75:25 (T2), and 70:30 (T3) were from 0.4623 g/cm³ to 0.4990 g/cm³, from 26.6 MJ/kg to 27.3 MJ/kg. The samples of the peanut charcoal briquette were subjected to proximate analysis and ultimate analysis. For the proximate analysis, the moisture content was from 1.88 wt.% to 2.13 wt.%, the volatile matter was from 8.37 wt.% to 8.82 wt.%, ash content was from 6.61 wt.% to 7.34 wt.% and the fixed carbon was from 81.9 wt.% to 83.1 wt.%. Results of the ultimate analysis showed that the content of C, H, O, and S was as follows; 71.6 wt.% to 72.6 wt.%, 2.28 wt.% to 2.40 wt.%, 24.6 wt.% to 25.7 wt.%, and 0.3078 wt.% to 0.4144 wt.%. The characteristics of the charcoal briquettes derived from peanut shells and Cornick wastewater as a binder were compared to the standards for charcoal briquettes used in grilling, cooking, and for electricity generation. The abundance of locally available raw material in the production of charcoal briquette could provide employment to the unemployed individual in the locality. The characteristics of the charcoal briquettes produced demonstrated that it can be used for grilling, cooking, and electricity generation.