In the heart of northern Ghana, a revolution is brewing, and it’s not just about the groundnut shells and shea kernels that have long been discarded as waste. Researchers have transformed these agricultural byproducts into high-performance bio-briquettes, offering a sustainable and efficient energy solution for rural households. This innovative work, led by Abdalla Suhuyini Salifu from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, is set to shake up the energy sector and pave the way for a greener future.
Salifu and his team have been working tirelessly to optimize the mechanical and combustion properties of briquettes made from shea kernel shells (SKS) and groundnut shells (GS). The process involves carbonizing the shells through thermal pyrolysis and then mixing them with a binder made from cassava peel. The result? Solid briquettes that are not only environmentally friendly but also mechanically robust and highly efficient.
The team’s findings, published in the journal “Advances in Materials Science and Engineering” (which translates to “Advances in Material Science and Engineering” in English), reveal that the mechanical properties of these briquettes improve significantly with an increase in binder content. “The relaxation ratio decreases as the binder content increases, which is a good thing,” explains Salifu. “It means the briquettes become more mechanically stable. And a high water penetration resistance index indicates effective heating, which is exactly what we want for quality briquette production.”
But the benefits don’t stop at mechanical stability. The briquettes also boast impressive compressive and tensile strengths, making them durable and long-lasting. For instance, the compressive strength of SKS briquettes ranges from 392 to 682 N/mm², while GS briquettes range from 406 to 687 N/mm². These values are a testament to the briquettes’ potential to withstand the rigors of daily use in rural households.
The combustion properties of these briquettes are equally impressive. SKS briquettes have a water boiling time of 38.4 minutes at a burning rate of 2.81 g/min, while GS briquettes take 43.5 minutes at a burning rate of 2.305 g/min. The calorific values, which indicate the amount of energy produced by the briquettes, are 26.15 MJ/kg for SKS and 25.33 MJ/kg for GS. The thermal efficiencies recorded were 49% and 38%, respectively.
So, what does this mean for the energy sector? For one, it opens up a new avenue for waste management. Agricultural byproducts, which are often discarded, can now be repurposed into valuable energy sources. This not only reduces waste but also provides a sustainable energy solution for rural communities.
Moreover, the high mechanical and combustion properties of these briquettes make them a viable alternative to traditional fuels. They burn efficiently, produce less smoke, and are more durable. This could lead to a significant reduction in deforestation, as rural households would no longer need to rely on firewood for their energy needs.
The potential commercial impacts are enormous. With the right investment and scaling, this technology could revolutionize the energy sector in northern Ghana and beyond. It could create jobs, stimulate economic growth, and most importantly, provide a sustainable and efficient energy solution for rural communities.
As Salifu puts it, “This is just the beginning. There’s so much more we can do with these agricultural byproducts. The future of energy is green, and we’re just getting started.” The future indeed looks bright, and it’s powered by shea kernel shells and groundnut shells.