Journal of Energy Technologies and Policy ISSN 2224-3232 (Pa er! ISSN 222"-#"$3 (%nline! &ol.3' No.

(' 2#)3

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Fuel Briquettes from Water Hyacinth-Cow Dung Mixture as Alternative Energy for Domestic an Agro-!n ustrial A""lications
*r. +ran,. %. %ro,a- and .,hihiero Thel/a.E.--.gricultural Science 0nit' *e art/ent of &ocational Education' *elta State 0ni1ersity .2ra,a' Nigeria E-mail of corresponding author: orkfra@yahoo.com -- *e art/ent of 3he/ical Engineering' *elta State 0ni1ersity' .2ra,a' Nigeria **ejiroakhihiero@yahoo.co.uk A#stract The rocessing of agricultural wastes into 2io/ass is a strategy towards the de1elo /ent of alternati1e energy sources. The study was underta,en to in1estigate the ro erties of fuel 2ri4uettes roduced fro/ a /i5ture of a water hyacinth and cow dung. 6ri4uettes were /anufactured with a /anually-o erated 2ri4uette ress using four water hyacinth7 cow dung /i5ing ratios (2y weight!' i.e.' )##7#8 9#7 )#8 :#7 2#8 and $#7 3#. ;esults o2tained showed that 2ri4uettes roduced using $#73# and :#72# water hyacinth-cow dung ratios res ecti1ely e5hi2ited the largest rela5ed density on drying with 1alues of ))"$ and )29( ,g</3 res ecti1ely. E4uili2riu/ /oisture content (e./.c! of the 2ri4uettes ranged 2etween )#." = and )".)=' with a gradual increase in e./.c with increase in cow dung content. . reci rocal relationshi was o2ser1ed 2etween co/ ressed<rela5ed density and rela5ation ratio of the 2ri4uettes. The dura2ility rating of all the 2ri4uettes e5ceeded :"=. +lue gas te/ erature ranged fro/ (#." to $4." #3. 3o/ arati1e water 2oiling tests indicated that water was 2rought to 2oiling within the range of "4 to "9 /inutes. It was concluded that sta2le 2ri4uettes could 2e for/ed fro/ water hyacinth /i5ed with cow dung and can 2e used as alternati1e energy source to ,erosene and fuel wood. $eywor s7 water hyacinth' 2ri4uette' cow dung' dura2ility rating' 2ul, density !% &!ntro uction Increase in the energy de/and and use in Nigeria due to ra id growth in o ulation and industry has raised concerns a2out the econo/ic and en1iron/ental i/ acts of ower generation 2ased on national energy sources. >erosene and gas are the /a?or coo,ing fuel. The /a?ority of the eo le 2oth in ur2an and rural Nigeria rely on ,erosene sto1e for do/estic coo,ing while only a few use gas and electric coo,er e1en in the ur2an areas. .s lighting fuel' it@s co//on in 1irtually all ho/es in the rural areas and in /a?ority households in the ur2an centers since electric ower is grossly erratic and inade4uate. The high cost of urchase and /aintenance of 2oth etrol and diesel owered generators ha1e increased the use of ,erosene in 2ush la/ s and lanterns. Past e5 eriences ha1e shown that scarcity and increases in the rices of ,erosene ha1e often forced rural dwellers and ur2an oor to a2andon the ,erosene sto1e in fa1or of the co/ arati1ely chea er fuel wood and charcoal which is seen as su2stitute source of energy. Aence s/all scale agro industries such as 2a,eries use fuel wood as source of energy. ;ecent studies show that national de/and for traditional energy (/ostly fuel wood and charcoal! is 39 /illion tons er annu/ (a2out 3$.4= of the total energy de/and and the highest single share of all the energy for/s!. It is ro?ected to increase to 9) /illion tons 2y 2#3# Nigeria B)C. Thus there is urgent need for alternati1e energy sources to co/ le/ent the etroleu/ roducts fro/ the etroleu/ industry as well as conser1e our forests. 6ri4uetting of the a2undant 2io/ass in Nigeria re resents one of the ossi2le solutions to the local energy shortages in the country. It constitutes a ositi1e solution to the ro2le/ of increasing rates of desertification associated with high fuel wood consu/ tion. 3o//on a/ong such 2io/ass are water hyacinth (Eicchornia crassipes Sol/s' an a4uatic weed has re/ained a threat to Nigeria coastal waters and inland water ways since )9:# and cow dung. 6io/ass waste /aterial is usually 1ery 2ul,y and has a 1ery low density which /a,es it 1ery difficult to 2e used in /any ty es of 2urners and /a,e its trans ortation also 1ery unecono/ical B2C. *ensification of 2io/ass is one of the solutions to this ro2le/. 6ri4uette 4uality is e1aluated /ainly 2y the 2ri4uette density B3C. If roduced at low cost and /ade con1eniently accessi2le to consu/ers' 2ri4uettes could ser1e as co/ le/ents to firewood and charcoal and ,erosene for do/estic coo,ing and agro-industrial o erations' there2y reducing the high de/and for the/. 6esides' 2ri4uettes ha1e 2een noted to ha1e ad1antages o1er fuel wood in ter/s of greater heat intensity' cleanliness' con1enience in use' and relati1ely s/aller s ace re4uire/ent for storage B4C. . nu/2er of locally a1aila2le /aterials ha1e 2een found to 2e suita2le for 2ri4uetting into fuel energy roduction. These include sawdust' cow ea chaffs' cornco2s' and water hyacinth. In a study to deter/ine the hysical attri2utes of 2ri4uettes fro/ guinea corn (Sorghum bicolor! residue' using

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Journal of Energy Technologies and Policy ISSN 2224-3232 (Pa er! ISSN 222"-#"$3 (%nline! &ol.3' No.(' 2#)3

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starch /ucilage as 2inder' it was o2ser1ed that the 2ri4uettes could 2e ,e t safely for a eriod of si5 /onths without deterioration B"C. They also re orted /a5i/u/ density of 2ri4uettes ranging fro/ $:9 to )3$2,g</3. In a related study' using waste a er and coconut hus, ad/i5tures in Nigeria' 2ri4uettes roduced using )##= waste a er and "79" waste a er7 coconut hus, ratios res ecti1ely were shown to e5hi2it the largest /ini/al linear e5 ansion on drying B(C. . reci rocal relationshi was o2ser1ed 2etween co/ ression<rela5ed density and rela5ed ratio of the 2ri4uettes. In a study' using two airs of 2io/ass 1iD. rice hus,-water hyacinth and 2agasserice straw' with cassa1a starch as a 2inder to roduce cylindrical 2ri4uettes in Eahasara,ha/ ro1ince' Thailand' results indicated that the /i5ing ratio significantly affected the co/ ressi1e characteristics B$C. *ensities of the 2ri4uettes roduced were found to 2e in the range of ):"-223 ,g</3. The co/2ustion test showed that the rice hus,-water hyacinth 2ri4uette with the /i5ing ratio of (#74# ro1ided the highest flue gas te/ erature. 3% contents e/itted for all e5 eri/ents were within the acce ta2le le1el B$C. The o2?ecti1es of this study are to deter/ine the hysical ro erties of fuel 2ri4uettes /ade fro/ water hyacinth using cow dung as co-/i5ture and 2inder at 1arying /i5ing ratios and to e5 lore the otential of the 2io/ass 2ri4uettes for coo,ing. '% Materials an Metho s 2.1 Raw aterials !reparation Fater hyacinth har1ested fro/ the near2y ri1er was dried and cho ed into 1ery s/all siDes. The water hyacinth was reduced 2y a co/2ination of cho ers and /illing /achines. 3ow dung was o2tained fro/ the a2attoir situated in the co//unity. The cow dung collected was sun dried and thereafter crushed /echanically using a /ortar and estle to ensure ho/ogeneity. 3he/ical analysis of dry water hyacinth and cow dung were carried out to deter/ine /oisture content 1olatile /atter' fi5ed car2on' and ash content using /ethods descri2ed B:C. The gross calorific 1alue (G3&H of /aterials used for the 2ri4uettes were further esti/ated using the for/ula 2elow as stated B9C 7 Gross calorific 1alue (G3&! I 2#.# 5 ()-.- E!' where . is the ercentage ash content and E is the ercentage /oisture content. 2.2. "ri#uetting !rocedure 3ho ed water hyacinth was allowed to stand for two wee,s to artially deco/ ose. The /aterial was thoroughly /i5ed /anually with dry cow dung until a unifor/ly 2lended /i5ture was o2tained. Ei5tures were re ared at the following water hyacinth7 cow dung ratios' i.e.' )##7#8 9#7 )#8 :#7 2#8 and $#7 3#' on a weight ercent 2asis. The /aterials were /i5ed into sou y slurry in water. . fi5ed 4uantity of the slurry was ut inside the 2ri4uette ress /ade of a /etal cylindrical /ould with holes at the 2ase of the /ould with inner dia/eter of )#c/ dia/eter and 3#c/ high' co1ered with a to /etal late and co/ ressed /anually to create round 2ri4uettes. . dwell ti/e (duration of load a lication! of 9# seconds was o2ser1ed for the 2ri4uettes during for/ation. %ne hundred re licate 2ri4uette sa/ les was roduced er 2atch fro/ each /i5ture. $.% "ri#uette &uality E'aluation( (etermination of "ulk (ensity- *ensity is an i/ ortant ro erty of the fuel. Aigh density roducts are desira2le in ter/s of trans ortation' storage and handling. The 2ul, density of the 2ri4uetted 2io/ass was deter/ined 2y /easuring di/ensions and weights of )# sa/ les er 2atch. Feight /easure/ents were erfor/ed with an electronic 2alance and the di/ension of the sa/ les were deter/ined 2y using a 1ernier cali er. The a1erage density was calculated and re orted )ompressed density of the 2ri4uettes was deter/ined i//ediately after re/o1al fro/ the 2ri4uetting /achine as a ratio of /easured weight o1er calculated 1olu/e. To deter/ine dimensional stability' the length of fi1e re resentati1e 2ri4uettes fro/ each roduction 2atch was /easured at #' 3#' (# and )44# and )#'#:# /inute inter1als. E#uilibrium oisture content (e./.c.! of the 2ri4uettes was deter/ined after 2# days of sun-drying at roo/ te/ erature and relati1e hu/idity. The rela*ed density of the 2ri4uettes was also deter/ined in the dry condition after 2# days. The rela5ation ratio was co/ uted fro/ the e4uation 2elow7 ;ela5ation ratio I 3o/ ressed density ;ela5ed density The durability of the dry 2ri4uettes was deter/ined with the aid of a dura2ility tester' i.e.' a dusttight 3## // 5 3##// 5 4"# // enclosed 2o5 using the ./erican Society of .gricultural Engineers (.S.E! standard /ethod' S2(9.3. Test sa/ le of fi1e 2ri4uettes were tu/2led for 3 /inutes at )3 re1</in. This was conducted after 2# days of 2ri4uette for/ation. The weight of the solid 2ri4uettes re/aining were then deter/ined. The dura2ility rating for each ty e of 2ri4uette will 2e e5 ressed as a ercentage of the initial /ass of the /aterial re/aining in the 2o5' e5 ressed /athe/atically as follows7 *ura2ility (=! I Feight of 2ri4uette 2efore tu/2ling (,g! Feight of 2ri4uette after tu/2ling (,g!

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Journal of Energy Technologies and Policy ISSN 2224-3232 (Pa er! ISSN 222"-#"$3 (%nline! &ol.3' No.(' 2#)3

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*ura2ility rating of :#-9#= should 2e considered Jgood@ while 9# and a2o1e is considered J1ery good@ B)#C. The water resistance of the dry 2ri4uettes was deter/ined 2y i//ersing fi1e sa/ les each in a glass container filled with distilled water at roo/ te/ erature for 3 hours and /easuring the changes in length and dia/eter of each 2ri4uette. Each e5 eri/ent was re licated thrice. )ombustion test: To e1aluate co/2ustion characteristics' 3## g of 2ri4uettes roduced were laced o1er the hearth of the locally /ade sto1e and the 2urning tests were carried out at the at/os heric condition. +lue gas te/ erature was recorded during tests. )ooking test +water boiling test,7 In other to e1aluate the coo,ing otential of the water hyacinth7 cow dung 2io/ass 2ri4uettes' two (2! liters of water were 2oiled in a ,ettle on a coo,ing sto1e. The te/ erature 1ersus ti/e history was ta,en for the water 2oiling test. )% *esults an Discussions %.-. !ro*imate analysis Ta2le )7 Pro5i/ate analysis' calorific 1alues and density of sun-dried 2io/ass used for 2ri4uettes roduction Eaterial &olatile +i5ed Eoisture .sh (=! Gross *ensity of /atter (=! car2on content 3alorific un rocessed (=! (=! 1alue (EJ<,g! /aterials (,g</3! Fater "(." )4.3 :." 24.( )3.4 )$" hyacinth 3ow dung "4.: ):.( 9.# )9.) )4.4 3:$ Ta2le )' a2o1e shows the 1alues for 1olatile /atter' fi5ed car2on' /oisture content and ash for sun dried water hyacinth and cow dung used for the study. The 1alues are within the range o2tained in other related studies B$C. The gross calorific 1alues for water hyacinth and cow dung were )4.4 and )3.4 EJ<,g res ecti1ely. These 1alues are not too different fro/ the range of )$ K ): EJ<,g o2tained for wood and other agricultural residues B9C. The density of un rocessed water hyacinth was )$" ,g</3 while cow dung ga1e a higher 1alue of 3:$ ,g</3. The density of unco/ ressed /i5ture at different water hyacinth7cow dung /i5ture ranged fro/ )$" ,g</3 to 2() ,g</3 as shown in Ta2le 2. The density of the unco/ ressed /i5ture increased with increase in 4uantity of cow dung added to the water hyacinth. This e5 lains the dual role of cow dung in the 2ri4uetting co/ onents. It is 2oth a feedstoc, for the 2ri4uette roduct and a 2inder. Since cow dung has finer articles than the water hyacinth' it could 2e e5 lained that the finer the article' the less the ore s aces and the /ore the /ass of the /aterial er gi1en 1olu/e which is good for 2ri4uetting. This is in agree/ent with other related studies B"C-B))C. %.$ . E#uilibrium oisture )ontent and (ensity Ta2le 27 E4uili2riu/ /oisture content and density of 2ri4uettes = of water E4uili2riu/ 3o/ ressed ;ela5ed ;ela5ation hyacinth Eoisture density density ratio to cow dung content (,g</3! (,g</3! (wet 2asis' =! )##7# )#." )")2 ::4 ).$) 9#7)# )2.9 )$(4 )#(9 ).(" :#72# )3.$ ):") ))"$ ).(# $#73# )".) )9$# )29( )."2 +ro/ the data in Ta2le 2' the e4uili2riu/ /oisture content (e./.c!' ranged 2etween )#." and )".)=. There was gradual decrease in e./.c of the 2ri4uettes with increase in the 4uantity of cow dung in /i5ture with water hyacinth. The o2ser1ed e./.c 1alues fall within the range of 1alues (".4=- )3.4= wet 2asis! B(C for coconut hus, and waste a er 2ri4uettes' and the range of 1alues ($.$-)".)= wet 2asis! B4C for saw dust and wheat straw 2ri4uettes. +or good stora2ility and co/2usti2ility of 2ri4uettes' 1alues within the range of )2-2#= wet 2asis ha1e 2een reco//ended B)2C. They further noted that an e./.c in e5cess of 2#= would result in considera2le loss of energy needed for water e1a oration during co/2ustion at the e5 ense of calorific 1alue of the fuel. The density of 2ri4uettes i//ediately after co/ ression (co/ ressed density! and density after re/o1al fro/ the ress (rela5ed density! are ara/eters used to characteriDe 2ri4uettes. .s shown in Ta2le 3' the co/ ressed density of the 2ri4uettes ranged 2etween )")2 to )9$# ,g</3' while the dry (rela5ed density! ranged fro/ ::4 to )29( ,g</3. These 1alues resulted in rela5ation ratio of 2etween )."2 and ).$). 3o/ ara2le rela5ation ratio of 2etween ).(" and ).:# for 2ri4uetted hay /aterials ha1e 2een o2ser1ed B)3C' rela5ation ratio of the range of ).: to 2." for 2ri4uetted waste a er and coconut hus, ha1e also 2een re orted B(C. The general increase in rela5ed density and rela5ation ratio with increase in the cow dung in the /i5ture /ay 2e due to the relati1e higher 2ul, density of cow dung as already shown in Ta2le ). ":

Journal of Energy Technologies and Policy ISSN 2224-3232 (Pa er! ISSN 222"-#"$3 (%nline! &ol.3' No.(' 2#)3

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3o/ ared to the density of unco/ ressed /i5tures in Ta2le ) which ranged fro/ )$" to 2() ,g</3' the rela5ed densities were /uch higher. Thus the rocess has 2een a2le to achie1e increased density which is a 1alua2le factor in 2ri4uetting. The 1alues did not differ /uch fro/ the 1alues of 2etween )2## and )4## ,g</3 re orted for agricultural wastes B9C. The higher density and the lower rela5ation ratio o2ser1ed with increasing 4uantity of cow dung in the /i5ture /ay erha s 2e due to the lasticity and 2etter 2onding nature of cow dung ena2ling the 2ri4uetted /aterials to for/ stronger 2ond' conse4uently resulting in a denser and /ore sta2le roduct during co/ action' than the water hyacinth alone. 3.3 ."ri#uette Stability +.inear E*pansion, It is a well esta2lished fact that 2ri4uettes co/ ressed in a closed cylinder ha1e a tendency to e5 and as the ressure is released. The e5 ansion ta,es lace ri/arily in the direction in which the load is a lied' i.e.' longitudinal direction. Ta2le 3 shows the increase in length with ti/e of 2ri4uettes fro/ the 1arious water hyacinth-cow dung /i5tures. The o2ser1ed linear e5 ansions were generally /ini/al. 6ri4uettes roduced using )##= water hyacinth and 9#7)# water hyacinth-cow dung ratio res ecti1ely e5hi2ited the largest linear e5 ansion (a2out )3.(= and )).:= res ecti1ely!' while those /anufactured at :#72# and $#73# and 2"7$" ratios e5hi2ited the least e5 ansion (a2out )#.3 and 9.)= res ecti1ely!. Fhat this finding see/s to suggest is that the cow dung erha s had so/e sta2iliDing effects on the 2ri4uettes. It has 2een noted that the ty e of /aterial 2ri4uetted is one of the factors that ha1e a recia2le effects on roduct e5 ansion B)4C. The 1alues are within the re orted range for other agricultural wastes such as (.: to 2#= for rattan waste 2ri4uettes hea1ily doDed with 2inder /aterial B)"C and 3 to 9= for coconut-waste a er 2ri4uettes B(C. Ta2le 37 *i/ensional sta2ility (/inute inter1als! = of water # /in 3#/ins )44#/ins )##:#/ins hyacinth to cow dung = linear e5 ansion )##7# # )3." )3.( )3.( 9#7)# # )).: )).: )).: :#72# # )#.2 )#.3 )#.3 $#73# # :.9 9.) 9.) The first thirty /inutes of the 2ri4uettes e5trusion was o2ser1ed to 2e crucial to its linear e5 ansion characteristics. The highest and /ost ra id e5 ansion too, lace within this eriod. %ne hour after its e5trusion and u to 24 hours' the a5ial e5 ansion was /ini/al. This o2ser1ation is su orted 2y other wor,s B)"C' B)(CB)$C' who all concluded that nearly all the e5 ansion of 2ri4uettes ta,es lace within 3# /inutes of its e5trusion. The co/ ressed agricultural residue res onds to the 2asic laws of stress and strain in di1erse for/s. The /aterial re2ounds according to its 1iscoelastic ro erties' which /ay continue for se1eral days naturally with slight incre/ents with a considera2le ortion of this re2ound ta,ing lace within a short ti/e after unloading. 3.4. (urability Rating Ta2le 47 *ura2ility rating = of water hyacinth to cow dung *ura2ility rating (=! Standard de1iation )##7# :".3 #.#2 9#7)# :9.: #.#3 :#72# 9#." #.#) $#73# 92.$ #.#2 *ura2ility is a /easure of the a2ility of a 2ri4uette to withstand /echanical handling. The essence of dura2ility is to 2e a2le to /ini/iDe losses and reser1e the 4uality of the roduct during handling and storage. Ta2le 4 indicated dura2ility of the 2ri4uette roduced at different /i5ing ratio of water hyacinth to cow dung. The dura2ility of the 2ri4uettes roduced 1aried in /agnitude fro/ :".3 to 92.$=. 6est 2ri4uettes were roduced at $#73# /i5 ratio. 3o/ ara2le results of the range 2etween :(." and 9(."= were o2tained for oil al/ /ush 2ri4uettes B):C' while range of 9(.3 to 9:."= was also o2ser1ed for coconut hus, and waste a er 2ri4uettes B9C. *ura2ility is a function of the /oisture content and density of the 2ri4uettes B)9C. Fhile the resence of /oisture reduces dura2ility' density tends to enhance it. In this study' dura2ility increased with density of the 2ri4uettes' 2ut slightly reduced 2eyond )3.$= /oisture le1el. *ura2ility is also a function of the 2ond strength 2etween the constituent arts of the 2ri4uettes. The o2ser1ed increase in dura2ility with increase in cow dung in the /i5 could also 2e attri2uted to the adhesi1e role the cow dung layed in the 2ri4uettes. It has 2een considered that the rotein and long cellulose fi2re content of co/2usti2le wastes were ri/arily res onsi2le for 2onding and sta2iliDation B))C - B2#C. "9

Journal of Energy Technologies and Policy ISSN 2224-3232 (Pa er! ISSN 222"-#"$3 (%nline! &ol.3' No.(' 2#)3

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3." /ater Resistance Ta2le "7 *i/ensional changes in 2ri4uettes after "-hours i//ersion in water = of water hyacinth to Initial length +inal length cow dung (//! (//! )##7# 3( 3(." 9#7)# 3( 3$.# :#72# 3" 3(." $#73# 3$ 3:."

= length e5 ansion (//! ).4 2.: 4.3 4.)

Ta2le " shows results of si/ le i//ersion test for the 2ri4uettes. The ost-i//ersion linear e5 ansion of the 2ri4uettes ranged 2etween ).4 and 4.3=. The 2ri4uettes had relati1ely low water a2sor ti1e ca acity. 6ri4uettes with only water hyacinth had the least water a2sor ti1e ca acity. The relati1ely high resistance of the 2ri4uettes to water /ay 2e due to the resence of water hyacinth in the 2ri4uettes. Fater hyacinth is ,nown to ha1e a high cellulose content of the range of )$.) to 3)= B2)C. The findings suggest that any e5 osure of the 2ri4uettes to /oisture /ay not ha1e a significant disintegrating effect on the/. 3.(. )ombustion 0ests Ta2le (7 .1erage fuel gas te/ erature = of water hyacinth to cow dung +lue gas te/ erature (#3! )##7# (#." 9#7)# (4.) :#72# (9.# $#73# $4." *ata on flue gas te/ erature of 2ri4uettes is resented in Ta2le (. 6ri4uettes /ade fro/ only water hyacinth had the lowest flue gas te/ erature of (#." #3' while the /i5 ratio of $#73# water hyacinth<cow dung recorded the highest flue gas te/ erature of $4." #3. +lue gas te/ erature increased with increase in content of cow dung in the 2ri4uettes. ;e orted a1erage flue gas te/ eratures of the range of ").# to $#.) for rice hus,<water hyacinth 2ri4uettes has 2een re orted B$C. Ta2le $7 ;esults for water 2oiling tests = water hyacinth7 cow dung )##7# 9#7)# :#72# $#73# Ti/e Te/ . Ti/e Te/ . Ti/e Te/ . Ti/e Te/ . (/ins! (%3! (/ins! (%3! (/ins! (%3! (/ins! (%3! # " )# )" 2# 2" 3# 3" 4# 4" "# "" "9 29." 34.3 3:.( 42.$ 4:.( "".# "9.( ($.$ $3.: :#.) :$.# 94.9 )##.# # " )# )" 2# 2" 3# 3" 4# 4" "# "" "$ 29." 3".3 3:.9 43." 4:.9 "4.: (#.) (:.2 $".( :2.) 9#.3 9$." )##.# # " )# )" 2# 2" 3# 3" 4# 4" "# "4 29." 3".: 39.# 43.9 49.3 ":.( (2.4 $#.3 $:.( :(.) 9".2 )##.# # " )# )" 2# 2" 3# 3" 4# 4" "# ") 29." 3(.$ 4#.# 44.2 "#.# ":.: (3." $2." $9.$ ::.) 9(.3 )##.#

Ta2le $ shows the te/ erature 1ersus ti/e recorded for the water 2oiling tests. It can 2e o2ser1ed that water was 2rought to 2oiling at "9/inutes' "$ /inutes' "4 /inutes and ") /inutes for )##7#' 9#7)#' :#72# and $#73# water hyacinthKcow dung /i5tures ratios res ecti1ely. In a related study with only water hyacinth 2ased 2ri4uettes a2out "$/inutes was re orted for water 2oiling tests B22C. +% Conclusions This study indicated that water hyacinth /ay 2e used alone or /i5ed with cow dung as a co-/i5ture and 2inder /aterial in 2ri4uetting. The results ha1e shown that these 2iowastes can 2e co/ ressed and sta2iliDed to density of the order of a2out " ti/es that of unco/ ressed /aterials. The 2ri4uettes o2tained fro/ the water hyacinth7 cow dung /i5tures were resistant to attrition. +or 2ri4uette 4uality control' the hysical ara/eters such as density' /oisture content' sta2ility' water resistance and dura2ility were found to 2e good indicators of 4uality. (#

Journal of Energy Technologies and Policy ISSN 2224-3232 (Pa er! ISSN 222"-#"$3 (%nline! &ol.3' No.(' 2#)3

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,% Ac-nowle gement The authors are grateful to the Petroleu/ Technology *e1elo /ent +und' (PT*+!' .2u?a' Nigeria for ro1iding the research grant for this ro?ect *EFE*E.CE/ B)C Econo/ic 3o//ission of Nigeria Forld solar rogra//e )99(-2##"' Pro?ects of the Go1ern/ent of Nigeria7 Pro?ects *ocu/ents E3N .2u?a' )99:. B2C .2a,r' L.. and ..E. .2asaeed' E5 eri/ental e1aluation of a conical-screw 2ri4uetting /achine for the 2ri4uetting of car2oniDed cotton stal,s in Sudan Journal of Engineering Science and Technology )(2!7 2)2-22#' 2##( B3C >irDan' P8 Soos M.8 Eatus E.8 S1ate,' E and *. &u,elic . E1aluation of /easured data fro/ research of ara/eters i/ act on final 2ri4uettes density Journal of . lied Eathe/atics 3(3!7 $#-$(' 2#)# B4C Fa/u,onya M. and 6. Jen,ins . *ura2ility and rela5ation of sawdust and wheat K straw 2ri4uettes as ossi2le fuels for >enya. 6io/ass and 6ioenergy : (3!7 )$"- )$9' )99". B"C 6a/g2oye' . and S. 6olufawi. Physical 3haracteristics of 6ri4uettes fro/ Guinea corn (sorghu/ 2i-color! ;esidue. .gricultural Engineering International7 the 3IG; E?ournal. Eanuscri t )3(4' 2##: B(C %lorunnisola ..%. Production of fuel 2ri4uettes fro/ waste a er and coconut hus, ad/i5tures .gricultural Engineering International7 the 3IG; EJournal 47)-))' 2##$ B$C Ja/radloedlu,' J.' Panoe/ai' 3.' Tiang,rato,e' . and S. Firiyau/ aiwong. Physical ro erties and co/2ustion erfor/ance of 2ri4uettes roduced fro/ two airs of 2io/ass s ecies E1E00 49-)3$7 )-4' 2##4 B:C .%.3. %fficial Eethods of .nalysis. .ssociation of %fficial .nalytical 3he/ists. )"th edition' Fashington' *.3' 0S.' )99# B9C Eri,sson' S. and E. Prior. The 6ri4uetting of .gricultural Fastes for +uel. +...%. ;o/e' Italy' )99# B)#C Faelti' A. and J.6. *odie. 3u2a2ility of ;ice Straw as .ffected 2y &arious 6inder. Transactions of .S.E. )( (2!73:#-3:3 )9$3. B))C 3haney' J. 3o/2ustion characteristics of 2io/ass 2ri4uettes Ph* Thesis su2/itted to the 0ni1ersity of Notthingha/ ' 2#)# B)2C 3arre J.' P. Me4ueu5 J.' Aer2ert' and M. Macrosse . 6io/ass densification. . research ro?ectre ort u2lished 2y the 3o//ission of Euro ean 3o//unities' *irectorate General for *e1elo /ent' 6elgiu/' )9:: B)3C %@*ogherty E.J. . re1iew of the /echanical 2eha1iour of straw when co/ ressed to high densities. Journal of .gricultural Engineering. ;esearch 447.24)-2("' )9:9. B)4C 6ruhn A.*.' .. Ni//er/an and ;.P. Nieder/ier. *e1elo /ents in elleting forage cro s..gricultural Engineering. 2#4-2#$' )9"9. B)"C %lorunnisola ..%. 6ri4uetting of ;attan +urniture Faste. Journal of 6a/2oo and ;attan. 3 (2!7 )39-)49' 2##4. B)(C Eohsenin' E. N and J' Nas,e. Stress ;ela5ation and Energy ;e4uire/ents in 3o/ action of 0nconsolidated Eaterials. Journal of .gricultural Engineering ;esearch. 2) (2!7 )93K2#"' )9$(. B)$C %@*ogherty' E..J. and J. .. Fheeler. 3o/ action of straw to high densities in closed cylindrical dies' Journal of .gricultural Engineering ;esearch' 297 ()K$2' )9:4. B):C %laoye' J.%' ..+. .longe and 6... .da/s. Effects of die dia/eter /i5 ratio and co/ ressi1e force on 2ri4uetting of oil al/ /ush Nigeria Journal of Technological *e1elo /ent 372$-3$' 2##3 B)9C Ausain N.' N. Nainac and N. .2dullah 6ri4uetting of al/ fi2re and shell fro/ the rocessing of al/ nuts to al/ oil. 6io/ass and 6ioenergy 227"#"-"#9' 2##2. B2#C 6a,er' 0.G. 6ri4uetting of .f?in-El2istein lignite Tur,ey using different waste /aterials +uel Processing Technology ")7)3$' )99$ B2)C Gunnarsson 3.3. and 3.E.Petersen . Fater hyacinths as a resource in agriculture and energy roduction7 . literature re1iew. Faste Eanage/ent 2$7 ))$-)29' 2##$ B22C Ighodalo' %..8 >. Nou,u/or' 3. Eg2on' S. %,oh and %du >. Processing water hyacinth into 2io/ass 6ri4uettes for coo,ing ur oses Journal %f E/erging Trends In Engineering .nd . lied Sciences (JETE.S! 2 (2!7 3#"-3#$' 2#))

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