Articles
  • Production and characteristic analysis of thick solid biomass fuel from the waste of watermelon-muskmelon using ceramic powder and cassava starch as binder – ceramics in energy application

  • V. Sampathkumara,*, S. Manoja, S. Anandakumarb, K.S. Navaneethanc, P.C. Murugand, Tahani Mazyad Almutairie and Basheer M. Al-Maswarif

  • aDepartment of Civil Engineering, Kongu Engineering College, Perundurai, Erode, Tamilnadu, India – 638060
    bDepartment of Civil Engineering, KPR Institute of Engineering and Technology, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, India – 641407
    cDepartment of Civil Engineering, Kongu Engineering College, Perundurai, Erode, Tamilnadu, India – 638060
    dDepartment of Automobile Engineering, Kongu Engineering College, Perundurai, Erode, Tamilnadu, India – 638060
    eDepartment of Chemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
    fDepartment of Chemistry, Yuvaraja’s College, University of Mysore, Manasagangotri, Mysuru 570 006, India

  • This article is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Despite their status as non-renewable energy sources, fossil fuels are widely utilized across industries, resulting in substantial harmful emissions upon combustion. This poses severe environmental consequences and disrupts natural ecosystems. To tackle this challenge, our research focused on replacing fossil fuels with biomass briquettes derived from watermelon and muskmelon waste blends in varying ratios (100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75, and 0:100). Utilizing a mixture of ceramic powder and cassava starch as binding agents, we aimed to improve the briquetting process. The briquettes underwent comprehensive testing to evaluate proximate parameters like ash content and volatile matter, alongside ultimate parameters such as chemical composition and calorific value. Advanced analyses including SEM/EDAX and TGA were employed to thoroughly assess the briquettes. The findings suggest that these briquettes, being renewable, emit minimal pollutants, and produce reduced residue, hold potential as a feasible alternative to traditional non-renewable energy sources.


Keywords: Biomass briquettes, Ceramic powder – cassava starch binder, Watermelon – muskmelon fruit waste, Thermo gravimetric analysis, Proximate parameter.

This Article

  • 2024; 25(4): 633-642

    Published on Aug 31, 2024

  • 10.36410/jcpr.2024.25.4.633
  • Received on Apr 4, 2024
  • Revised on Jun 13, 2024
  • Accepted on Jul 5, 2024

Correspondence to

  • V. Sampathkumar

  • Department of Civil Engineering, Kongu Engineering College, Perundurai, Erode, Tamilnadu, India – 638060
    Tel : +91 9047151001

  • E-mail: anbusampathcivil@gmail.com