Binder Application in Durian Peels Briquette as a Solid Biofuel

Abstract

A research on the application of calcium hydroxide as a binder for briquetting of durian peels has been performed. The main aim of the present research is to improve the structure of the briquette and to observe basic fuel properties of durian peels in the presence of calcium hydroxide. The carbonization of durian peels was carried out at 370 °C for one hour. Durian peels briquette was characterized by the proximate analysis, calorific value, compressive tests and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR). The briquette was formed by the cyclindricalmould and hydraulic press.The comparison of the compressive strength between durian peels briquette with and without calcium hydroxide as a binder was in the range of 11.41 MPa to 17.38 Mpa. The calorific value of the durian peels briquettevaries from 4968 to 5883 cal/g. The calorific value results show that the durian peels briquette has strong potential to be applied as solid biofuel.