OPTIMIZATION OF BRIQUETTES PRODUCED FROM CARBONIZED COCONUT SHELL AND OIL PALM EMPTY FRUIT BUNCH BLENDS USING RESPONSE SURFACE METHODOLOGY

In this study, briquettes were prepared from agricultural waste (coconut shell and oil palm empty fruit bunch) using cassava peels as binder. Central composite design (CCD) of response surface methodology (RSM) was used to investigate the effect of independent variables (binder amount, compaction force, and proportion of empty fruit bunch) on response variables (calorific value, compressive strength, burn rate and density). Conventional heating was adopted for the carbonization of both products: with coconut shell carbonized at 700 ⁰C at 60 minutes residence time while OPEFB was carbonized at 400 ⁰C at 30 minutes residence time. RSM analysis reveals that experimental results were best fitted into quadratic polynomial models. Optimized preparation conditions were compaction force 9kN, binder amount 50g and EFB:CS 80 % for 27.6151 MJ/kg calorific value, 2.85614 MPa compressive strength, 01.04378 g/min burning rate and 877.889 kg/m ³ density. These results were validated and found to be calorific value 27.97 MJ/kg, compressive strength 2.819 MPa, burning rate 1.025 g/min and density 896.32 kg/m ³ which justifies the predicted results. This study will be helpful for production of fuel alternatives for domestic uses in developing and underdeveloped countries.