Essay On Sago Briquettes

The sago industry produces large amounts of sago biomass. Many studies have been conducted on the determination of biomass residue values, but only a few studies have been carried out on the heating values of sago samples. At present, biomass is useful by converting biomass sago into uniform and solid material through the briquetting process making it an attractive solution in enhancing its properties and adding value. In this study, sago bark’s, sago cortex and sago fronds in powder form become briquettes at high temperature and pressure using caulk gun technology. Briquettes have been analyzed to determine the physical and chemical properties and their combustion properties. It has been found that briquettes are made from 100% sago samples that are crushed or mixed with corn starch as a binder which shows good combustion properties in producing quality briquettes. Producing sago

Briquette pH values were measured at a ratio of 1:10 (w/v) in KCl solution (1.0 mol/L) after being shaken for 24 h. Elemental composition (C/H/N/S) of the briquettes was done in the Materials and Characterization Laboratory, Faculty of Engineering, University Putra Malaysia using an Elementar Vario Micro Cube apparatus. The samples were weighed in a tin capsule and combusted in a furnace at 1150 °C. A conductivity detector is used to measure the evolved gas and determine the composition.

2.3 Mechanical Strength Analysis Vertical and horizontal forces were applied to the briquettes. Vertical forces were applied or compressive strength analysis of briquettes was determined using a hydraulic press machine, while elasticity strength was conducted by applying force at the middle part in horizontal side of briquettes using Zwick 100 –Tensile Machine. Both mechanical strength analysis was done in the Food Process Engineering Laboratory, Faculty of Engineering, University Putra Malaysia. 2.4 Combustion