Development and Performance Evaluation of Sesame Stalk-Based Biomass Briquettes for Sustainable Energy Production

Unofficial AI-generated summary based on the public title and abstract. Not an official translation.

🔬研究者:Offers a systematic optimization framework (RSM) for briquette production that can be applied to other agricultural residues.

🏢実務担当者:Provides practical binder ratios and particle sizes for producing durable, high-energy briquettes from sesame stalks.

<title>Abstract</title> <p> Growing Growing concerns regarding fossil fuel depletion and environmental degradation have intensified the global demand for sustainable and renewable energy alternatives. In this context, biomass briquettes produced from agricultural residues represent an environmentally friendly substitute for conventional household fuels such as firewood and charcoal. This study investigated the production and performance evaluation of biomass briquettes derived from sesame stalks ( <italic>Sesamum indicum</italic> ) for household cooking and heating applications. Sesame stalks were used as the primary feedstock, while paper waste, cow dung, and their combination served as natural binders to improve briquette quality. The experimental design was developed using Design-Expert Software version 11 based on a Central Composite Design (CCD) under Response Surface Methodology (RSM) to optimize briquette production parameters. The effects of binder type, binder ratio, and particle size on key physical properties, including density and shatter resistance, were systematically evaluated. In addition, selected briquette samples were characterized through proximate analysis and calorific value determination to assess their fuel quality and energy potential. The results demonstrated that binder type, binder proportion, and particle size significantly affected both the physical and combustion properties of the briquettes. The highest density (0.78 g/cm³) was achieved using cow dung binder at a particle size of 0.75 mm, whereas the maximum shatter resistance (97.55%) was obtained with 25% paper waste binder at the same particle size. Proximate analysis revealed that briquettes produced with 5% cow dung binder exhibited the highest calorific value (13.19 MJ/kg), together with favorable fuel characteristics, including moisture content (7.43%), ash content (12.00%), fixed carbon (21.00%), and volatile matter (59.57%). In contrast, briquettes prepared with 15% paper waste binder showed the lowest calorific value (3072.09 kcal/kg). Overall, the findings indicate that sesame stalk-based briquettes, particularly those produced using 5% cow dung binder, possess suitable physical durability and energy performance for sustainable household energy applications. The study highlights the potential of sesame stalk briquettes as a viable renewable energy source that can contribute to agricultural waste valorization, environmental sustainability, and reduced dependence on fossil fuels. </p>

• Research Square https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9546215/v1first seen 2026-05-27 04:21:21 · last seen 2026-06-09 04:31:58