Bamboo charcoal briquette technology

Bamboo is found to be the most promising material sustitute for wood around the world. Thus, Malab et al. (MMSU) ventured on developing the bamboo charcoal briquette technology. Charcoal briquette was found to be promising biofuel that is both environment-friendly and economically feasible. The project aimed to develop other products from bamboo that can increase farmers' income, while serving as clean energy sources. This can clearly help mitigate environmental problems on waste utilization and disposal. The technology was developed in three phases: Phase 1 focused on testing chichacorn (boiled corn kernels fried to crispy state) effluents as binders; Phase 2 showcased the establishment of semi-commercial scale production of kawayan charcoal briquettes; and Phase 3 on trainings for the production,promotion, and organization of farmer cooperators. The E-kawayan Processing Center of MMSU conducted the experiment in collaboration with the Victor Angel Food Products Processing in Paoay, Ilocos Norte. Findings of the study reveal the following: The characteristics of the bamboo charcoal briquettes were comparable with those available in other Asian countries. In terms of the quality of measure of the material as fuel, briquettes approximated those produced from recommended cornstarch binder. Material quality measure of the briquettes included and average density of 0.46 g/cc, ash content of 8-11% and heat value of 7,995 BTU/lb. Briquette friability (the bond strength of binders used), decreased with increasing amount of binders mixed with the charcoal particles. Mixing 1 kg bamboo charcoal with 2,500 ml chichacorn effluent produced briquettes that attained briquette strength comparable with recommended cornstarch binder. Briquettes' strength compression with recommended binders had higher strength than those briquettes bonded with chichacorn effluent. However,this did not necessarily influence other charcoal characteristics. One ton of bamboo wastes required 650 L of effluent to produce 264 kg of charcoal briquettes. The conventional method of carbonizing, shredding, and molding the briquettes manually was used. This scheme showed a positive net profit in the bamboo charcoal production using the partial budget analysis. Three machines were fabricated to improve production. These were: 1) drum carbonizer, 2) shredder or pulverizer, and 3) molder or briquettor. A complete production line was organized to showcase different processes. This included waste collection, carbonizing, shredding or pulverizing, briquetting, drying, and packaging. Such set up showed the feasibility of introducing simple equipment in the kawayan briquettes production, with a payback period of 1.45 years and a productivity index of 0.89. Research results have proven that it is possible to produce additional products from bamboo, generate income, and provide additional employment opportunities in the countryside. In addition, using waste materials helps reduce environmental hazard and pressure on precious wood resources. The information generated would benefit the bamboo industry, and chichacorn-processing enterprises, and households using charcoal for domestic purposes.