Impact of Adhesive Composition on the Quality of Charcoal Briquettes from Corn Cob Biomass Waste as Renewable Energy
Alfina Taurida Alaydrus(a), Kholik Hidayatullah(b), Susi Rahayu(a,c,*), Ricky Indrayadi Saputra(a), Hurnah(a), Siti Rubiah(a), Weny Yulianingsih(a), I Wayan Sudiarta(a)

(a)Physics Department, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Mataram, Lombok, Indonesia.
(b)Physics Department, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Bandung, Indonesia
(c)Physics Department, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Brawijaya, Malang, Indonesia


*) Corresponding author: susirahayu[at]unram.ac.id

Abstract

The global energy crisis urges the environmentally friendly development of sustainable alternative energy. In recent decades, research has focused on using biomass waste as a renewable energy source. Corn cobs are abundant biomass waste and can be modified into charcoal briquettes. This study aimed to analyze the effect of tapioca flour adhesive composition on the density, compressive strength, elastic modulus, and energy value of charcoal briquettes. Manufacturing charcoal briquettes from corn cob waste use the carbonization method at 300C. The briquette-making process begins with manufacturing corn cob powder, charring, mixing, molding, and analysis of briquette characteristics. Briquettes were analyzed by measuring density, compressive test, elastic modulus, and calorific value analysis. Density measurement using analytical scales and calipers, compressive test and elastic modulus analysis with tensilon, and heat analysis with a bomb calorimeter. The analysis results stated that the amount of adhesive composition is directly proportional to the density, compressive strength, and elastic modulus of charcoal briquettes (the coefficient of determination R2 value is close to one). At the same time, it is inversely proportional to its calorific value. The highest density, compressive strength, and elastic modulus are in the 45% adhesive composition, namely 0.818 g/cm3, 3.6188 MPa, and 95.281 MPa, while the highest calorific value of the briquettes is in the 5% adhesive composition, namely 6.693 kcal/g. Therefore, the adhesive composition affects the quality of charcoal briquettes in terms of density, compressive strength, elastic modulus, and calorific value. However, the balance of the briquette composition must be considered to obtain ideal briquettes with optimal performance in practical applications.

Keywords: density, compressive strength, elastic modulus, calorific value, biomass energy

Topic: Material Physics