Valorisation of Agro-Waste Biomass: Impact of Process Conditions on Solid Fuel Properties

Abstract

Research scientists worldwide are in continuous drive for innovations toward achieving a safe and healthy environment across the entire ecosystem. An integral component of this pursuit, captured in SDG-7, is ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all. The discovery of the vastness of bioresources embedded in agricultural and forestry residue mirrors hope and an array of challenges. Over decades, densification of biomass has been implemented to upgrade and consolidate the energy value of loose biomass for industrial and domestic applications. This is projected to mitigate the overreliance on fossil fuels as an energy source. However, biomass's combustion and energy performance have not sufficiently met the energy mix requirements for extensive renewable energy use. The performance of the compacted material is own to kind of binders used in the manufacturing, among other factors. This literature explored the details of the available binders and biomass compositions investigated in reported studies. The authors also reported their performances, primarily regarding energy value and combustive behaviour. Limitations such as low yield and low energy content among other performance-related issues in biomass e briquette can be highly enhanced with the appropriate selection of biomass and compatible binders. Hence, these various research attempts, approaches, and methodologies in developing solid fuel and the binder’s influence on the energy content, density, combustion behaviour, and other physical attributes of fuel briquettes have been reported.