The effect of percentage binder on fiber bio-briquettes EFB on ignition quality

The briquetting process is one of the alternatives for processing waste of Empty Fruit Bunches (EFB). The briquetting process is able to increase the calorific value per unit volume and has a uniform quality and size. In the process of making bio-briquettes, the dried EFB is sorted and separated to obtain coarse fibers between the bunches and fine fibers, which are processed into a size of 16 mesh using a fiber chopper. The chopped mesh is then reprocessed to get a size of 20 mesh (0.84 mm) which will be used as briquettes. Starch binder is used as an adhesive at a percentage of 2%, 4%, 6% and 8% (wt%) of the mass of EFB. The study results show that the highest flame temperature occurred in briquettes with binder percentage of 8% (440⁰C); on the other hand, the effect of adding binder, in addition to increasing the duration of ignition, also has an impact on the burning smoke produced on average black when compared to the less binder percentage. The results of the adhesion test show that in the use of a 4% binder, the average loose fiber was 6%, compared to 2%, 6% and 8% more fibers were lost. The highest calorific value was at 4% binder percentage, i.e., 3676.2 kal/g, and this value is included in class E (3360-4201) based on calorific value.