PRODUCTION OF FUEL BRIQUETTES FROM POST-HARVEST RESIDUES OF PINEAPPLES AND WATER HYACINTH

On the one hand, the proliferation of water hyacinth on rivers in Benin causes several nuisances including navigation difficulties. On the other hand, the management of post-harvest pineapple residues is painful for producers. This study proposes to recover these two wastes as raw materials for the production of combustible briquettes. According to the quadratic method, the amount of post-harvest residues of pineapple, of the sugar loaf variety studied; is estimated at 106t/ha each year. A mixing plan was adopted to generate the composition of the various fuel briquette tests. They consist of water hyacinth, pineapple leaves and starch as a binder. In addition, as part of this work, the carbonizer was specially designed at the INSTI ex IUT of Lokossa. After the production of the briquettes, physical parameters as well as comparative combustion tests were carried out to know the best quality briquettes. These analyses and tests allowed us to highlight two types of briquettes of better quality (2 and 4). The fuel briquette n°2 is composed of 20% water hyacinth, 60% post-harvest pineapple residues and 20% starch. And the fuel briquette n°4 consists of 45% water hyacinth, 35% post-harvest pineapple residues and 20% starch. Compared to charcoal, the briquettes selected as better have a lower calorific value than charcoal (22.29Mj/kg and 22.36Mj/kg). Combustible briquettes 2 and 4 also have better flammability and better burning time compared to charcoal. The results of this study prove that combustible briquettes obtained from water hyacinth and post-harvest pineapple residues have a high energy potential and can be used as an alternative source to conventional charcoal