Production and Characterization of Agricultural-Based Composite Biomass Briquettes Using a Novel Heterogeneous Catalyst

Abstract

Reliance on conventional energy sources, such as wood and coal, has had a detrimental impact on the environment, resulting in air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Biomass briquettes offer a sustainable and renewable alternative to traditional energy sources. However, optimizing the quality of briquettes using biowaste materials remains a significant research gap. The study aims to optimize the physicochemical properties of composite briquettes using calcined turtle shell as a heterogeneous catalyst in a blend of 20% palm kernel shell, 30% plantain peel, and 50% cocoa pods biowaste, as per Optimal Custom Design (OCD) DoE 13.0. A maximum yield of heating value 18.14 MJ/kg and a minimum ash content of 6.01% was obtained. The study shows that the heterogeneous catalyst can effectively substitute CaO, advancing the viability of biomass briquettes as a sustainable, cost-effective alternative fuel source.