The demand for wood fuels in rural and some urban areas of Ghana keeps on increasing which could lead to forest degradation. The present study sought to produce and characterise briquette made from cocoa pod husk and a mixed sample which comprised of a mixture of cocoa pod husk and sawdust as an alternative source of fuel to reduce the pressure on wood fuels. Simple methods were used to produce the briquette for the study. The physico-chemical properties of the briquettes were conducted at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) where the proximate analysis, ultimate analysis and calorific value of the briquettes were analysed and compared to the controlled sample charcoal produced from “Amire” species (Terminalia ivorensis) using a completely randomized design (CRD) with 3 replications. A survey was also conducted to determine the usability of the briquettes using purposive sampling technique where sixty (60) respondents were given samples of the two different kinds of briquettes produced to use. Results obtained from the ultimate and proximate analysis showed that there were significant differences among the treatments (P < 0.05). Results obtained from the calorific value showed that the mixed briquette (23.6 MJ/Kg) produced significantly (P < 0.05) the highest amount of heat followed by the controlled charcoal (18.5 MJ/Kg) and carbonised cocoa pod husk briquette (16.7 MJ/Kg). Outcomes from the survey showed that (97%) of the respondent used wood fuels for their heating and cooking activities; (98%) of the respondents were ready to use the new briquettes produced if it is made available. From the results obtained, it could be concluded that the briquettes produced from cocoa pod husk and sawdust could help reduce the pressure on wood fuels, reduce deforestation and also provide cleaner fuel for cooking.
Cite this paper
Ofori, P. and Akoto, O. (2020). Production and Characterisation of Briquettes from Carbonised Cocoa Pod Husk and Sawdust. Open Access Library Journal, 7, e6029. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1106029.
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