GRAIN SIZE EFFECTS OF PALM KERNEL BRIQUETTES ON CALORIFIC VALUE

The need to convert agricultural wastes to useful and viable source of alternative energy for domestic and industrial purposes has been very rife in recent developments. Energy sustainability, suitability and affordability is required for human socio-economic growth and development for better standard of living. This study focused on effect of two different particle sizes of fine and coarse particulate of palm kernel shell agricultural-waste materials for producing briquettes on its calorific value. The synthetic adhesive (glue) an impure form of gelatine was adopted as binding agent for homogenous compatibility of the palm kernel shell to form the desired briquette. The calorific values of the dried briquettes made from fine and coarse particle sizes were determined by proximate and ultimate analyses of the raw palm kernel shells. The results of the calorific value of the two different particle sizes showed that the briquette made from coarse particle has higher calorific value than fine particle briquette. The calorific value of briquette from coarse particle size was 17.997 MJ/kg  and that of fine particle size briquette was 12.186 MJ/kg.