Abstract: Nigeria is a major producer of groundnut in the world with an average annual production of about one million tons. Groundnut production generates large amount of process residues such as groundnut shell. These groundnut residues which are currently of low utility value in Nigeria are potentially viable options for energy productions. However, these residues after harvest and processing must be gathered, processed and densified in order to facilitate efficient handling, transportation and usage. The experimental procedure involved in the development of a bottle jack press which has the capacity of producing three briquettes pieces per hour. Groundnut shell were pressed hydraulically in a compression compartment (360 x 105 x 155 cm3) compaction pressures of 1.5, 3.6 and 4.5N/m2, with binder ratio level of 15, 20 and 25% and particle size of 0.4, 1.8 and 2.7mm. Briquettes were produced from using residue particles mixed with cassava starch binder and moisture contents of experimental substrates were determined using ASAE standard. The ultimate and proximate analyses of the produced briquettes were carried out using ASTM standard method. Experiments were carried out to determine density, durability, indices, compressive strengths and heating value of briquettes produced. The produced briquettes rare densities between 356.3 and 632Kg/m3 The optimum moisture content, compressive strengths, compaction ratio, relaxation ratio and heating value for groundnut shell briquettes are 11.25%, 1.59KN/m2, 16.33J/kg, 4.3 and 1.45 respectively. The briquette properties are quite good with resistance to mechanical disintegration high value of relaxed density and low value of relaxation ratio obtained for the briquette imply their potentials as energy materials. ASL content = 1.3, Moisture Content = 12.0, Calorific value Kcal/kg = 4200
Keywords: Briquettes, Groundnut residues, compaction, ASAE, ASTM
Title: DENSIFICATION CHARACTERISTICS OF GROUNDNUT SHELL
Author: AJOBO J.A
International Journal of Mechanical and Industrial Technology
ISSN 2348-7593 (Online)
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