Research article
● Open access
Production of Bio-Briquettes from Agricultural Waste: A Comprehensive Study on Sustainable Energy Solutions
Abstract
The increasing global energy demand and environmental concerns associated with fossil fuels have intensified the search for sustainable and renewable energy sources. Biomass briquetting offers an effective method for converting low-density agricultural residues into compact, energy-rich solid fuels. This study focuses on the production and characterization of bio-briquettes made from agricultural wastes such as rice husk, sugarcane bagasse, cotton stalk, coconut shell, groundnut shell, banana peel, corn cobs, and sawdust.
The biomass materials were dried, pulverized, and mixed with banana peel powder as a natural binder (5–15%). Briquettes were produced using a hydraulic press under pressures of 10–30 MPa and later air-dried for stability. Proximate analysis was conducted to evaluate key fuel properties including moisture content, volatile matter, ash content, fixed carbon, density, and calorific value.
Results showed that the briquettes had an average moisture content of 10%, volatile matter of 72%, ash content of 6%, and fixed carbon of 12%. The calorific value averaged 15.42 MJ/kg, indicating good energy potential for domestic and small-scale industrial applications. These properties demonstrate that agricultural waste briquettes can serve as a viable and sustainable alternative to conventional fuels.
The study highlights the potential of converting agricultural residues into clean and renewable energy sources, contributing to waste management, rural energy security, and reduced environmental pollution.
Keywords
Bio-briquettes, Agricultural Residues, Biomass Energy, Renewable Energy, Waste Utilization, Briquetting Technology, Calorific Value, Sustainable Fuel.
References
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Ibrahim, M. S., Bello, S., & Ibrahim, A. (2020). Biomass briquettes as an alternative source of cooking fuel towards green recovery post COVID-19. Saudi Journal of Engineering and Technology, 5(6), 285-290. https://doi.org/10.36348/sjet.2020.v05i06.005
Idris, S. S., Zailan, M. I., Azron, N., & Rahman, N. A. (2021). Sustainable green charcoal briquette from food waste via microwave pyrolysis technique: Influence of type and concentration of binders on chemical and physical characteristics. International Journal of Renewable Energy Development, 10(3), 425-433. https://doi.org/10.14710/ijred.2021.33101
Jadhav, P. V., Dashore, S., & Chaudhary, K. (2016). Biomass briquette system: Pollution free thermal energy resources. International Journal of Innovative Research in Science, Engineering and Technology, 5(1), 1165-1171. https://doi.org/10.15680/IJIRSET.2015.0501102
Kaliyan, N., & Morey, R. V. (2009). Factors affecting strength and durability of densified biomass products. Biomass and Bioenergy, 33(3), 337-359. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2008.08.005
Kelwade, A., Gaikwad, D., Kelwade, S., Vishwakarma, L., & Jaiswal, P. (2025). Biomass briquettes from agriculture waste. International Journal of Innovations in Engineering and Science, 10(3), 17-20. https://doi.org/10.46335/IJIES.2025.10.3.4
Kpalo, S. Y., & Zainuddin, M. F. (2020). Briquettes from agricultural residues: An alternative clean and sustainable fuel for domestic cooking in Nasarawa State, Nigeria. Energy and Power, 10(2), 40-47. https://doi.org/10.5923/j.ep.20201002.03
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Nikiforov, A., Kinzhibekova, A., Prikhodko, E., Karmanov, A., & Nurkina, S. (2023). Analysis of the characteristics of bio-coal briquettes from agricultural and coal industry waste. Energies, 16(8), 3527. https://doi.org/10.3390/en16083527
Oladeji, J. T. (2010). Fuel characterization of briquettes produced from corncob and rice husk residues. The Pacific Journal of Science and Technology, 11(1), 101-106.
Owusu, P. A., & Asumadu-Sarkodie, S. (2016). A review of renewable energy sources, sustainability issues and climate change mitigation. Cogent Engineering, 3(1), 1167990. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311916.2016.1167990
Oyebamiji, O. O., Olaleru, A. S., Oyeleke, R. B., & Ofodile, L. N. (2025). Evaluation and characterization of biochar and briquettes from agricultural wastes for sustainable energy production. Waste Management Bulletin, 3(3), 100198. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wmb.2025.100198
Paramasivan, B., & Senthilkumar, R. (2019). Production and characterization of biomass briquettes from agricultural wastes. International Journal of Renewable Energy Research, 9(2), 876-883.
Peter, A., & Kumar, S. (2018). Comparative analysis of coal briquettes and biomass briquettes for domestic applications. Journal of Energy and Environmental Sustainability, 6, 45-52.
Sanchez, P. D. C., Aspe, M. M. T., & Sindol, K. N. (2022). An overview on the production of bio-briquettes from agricultural wastes: Methods, processes, and quality. Journal of Agricultural and Food Engineering, 3(1), 1-17. https://doi.org/10.37865/jafe.2022.0036
Widjaya, D., Sinatraya, A. N., Kusumandaru, W., Jupriyanto, A., & Nijkamp, R. T. (2022). Utilization of several agricultural wastes into briquette as renewable energy source. Planta Tropika, 10(2), 169-176. https://doi.org/10.18196/pt.v10i2.1377
Chen, N., & Usman, M. (2025). Energy use, energy depletion, and environmental degradation: Exploitation of natural resources. Natural Resources Forum, 49(4), 3984-3995. https://doi.org/10.1111/1477-8947.12591
Emaga, T. H., Andrianaivo, R. H., Wathelet, B., Tchango, J. T., & Paquot, M. (2007). Effects of the stage of maturation and varieties on the chemical composition of banana and plantain peels. Food Chemistry, 103(2), 590-600. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2006.09.006
Geberehiet, G. A., Gebreegziabher, T., Mekonen, A. G., Hagos, G. K., & Gebresilasie, T. N. (2025). Development of briquettes suitable for energy generation from residue of sorghum stalk and groundnut husk. Materials for Renewable and Sustainable Energy, 14(2), 35. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40243-025-00309-7
Ibrahim, M. S., Bello, S., & Ibrahim, A. (2020). Biomass briquettes as an alternative source of cooking fuel towards green recovery post COVID-19. Saudi Journal of Engineering and Technology, 5(6), 285-290. https://doi.org/10.36348/sjet.2020.v05i06.005
Idris, S. S., Zailan, M. I., Azron, N., & Rahman, N. A. (2021). Sustainable green charcoal briquette from food waste via microwave pyrolysis technique: Influence of type and concentration of binders on chemical and physical characteristics. International Journal of Renewable Energy Development, 10(3), 425-433. https://doi.org/10.14710/ijred.2021.33101
Jadhav, P. V., Dashore, S., & Chaudhary, K. (2016). Biomass briquette system: Pollution free thermal energy resources. International Journal of Innovative Research in Science, Engineering and Technology, 5(1), 1165-1171. https://doi.org/10.15680/IJIRSET.2015.0501102
Kaliyan, N., & Morey, R. V. (2009). Factors affecting strength and durability of densified biomass products. Biomass and Bioenergy, 33(3), 337-359. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2008.08.005
Kelwade, A., Gaikwad, D., Kelwade, S., Vishwakarma, L., & Jaiswal, P. (2025). Biomass briquettes from agriculture waste. International Journal of Innovations in Engineering and Science, 10(3), 17-20. https://doi.org/10.46335/IJIES.2025.10.3.4
Kpalo, S. Y., & Zainuddin, M. F. (2020). Briquettes from agricultural residues: An alternative clean and sustainable fuel for domestic cooking in Nasarawa State, Nigeria. Energy and Power, 10(2), 40-47. https://doi.org/10.5923/j.ep.20201002.03
Marreiro, H. M. P., Peruchi, R. S., Lopes, R. M. B. P., Andersen, S. L. F., Eliziaro, S. A., & Rotella Junior, P. (2021). Empirical studies on biomass briquette production: A literature review. Energies, 14(24), 8320. https://doi.org/10.3390/en14248320
Nikiforov, A., Kinzhibekova, A., Prikhodko, E., Karmanov, A., & Nurkina, S. (2023). Analysis of the characteristics of bio-coal briquettes from agricultural and coal industry waste. Energies, 16(8), 3527. https://doi.org/10.3390/en16083527
Oladeji, J. T. (2010). Fuel characterization of briquettes produced from corncob and rice husk residues. The Pacific Journal of Science and Technology, 11(1), 101-106.
Owusu, P. A., & Asumadu-Sarkodie, S. (2016). A review of renewable energy sources, sustainability issues and climate change mitigation. Cogent Engineering, 3(1), 1167990. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311916.2016.1167990
Oyebamiji, O. O., Olaleru, A. S., Oyeleke, R. B., & Ofodile, L. N. (2025). Evaluation and characterization of biochar and briquettes from agricultural wastes for sustainable energy production. Waste Management Bulletin, 3(3), 100198. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wmb.2025.100198
Paramasivan, B., & Senthilkumar, R. (2019). Production and characterization of biomass briquettes from agricultural wastes. International Journal of Renewable Energy Research, 9(2), 876-883.
Peter, A., & Kumar, S. (2018). Comparative analysis of coal briquettes and biomass briquettes for domestic applications. Journal of Energy and Environmental Sustainability, 6, 45-52.
Sanchez, P. D. C., Aspe, M. M. T., & Sindol, K. N. (2022). An overview on the production of bio-briquettes from agricultural wastes: Methods, processes, and quality. Journal of Agricultural and Food Engineering, 3(1), 1-17. https://doi.org/10.37865/jafe.2022.0036
Widjaya, D., Sinatraya, A. N., Kusumandaru, W., Jupriyanto, A., & Nijkamp, R. T. (2022). Utilization of several agricultural wastes into briquette as renewable energy source. Planta Tropika, 10(2), 169-176. https://doi.org/10.18196/pt.v10i2.1377