Production of High-Energy-Density Biomass Material Utilizing Bagasse and Waste Oil Derived from the Service Center Operations

Abstract

Bagasse is produced through the milling process of cane sugar manufacturing. These fibrous residue products are used for energy production. Waste crankcase oil (WCO) is a significant waste of a vehicle service center. This waste is generated through the motor engine oil changing procedure. Already, this waste product is polluting the environment. Densification is a promising technology for producing renewable fuels by compressing and reducing biomass volume, which is crucial for storing, handling, and transporting biomass. This study focuses on the production of high-energy- density briquettes utilizing sugarcane bagasse and WCO, with briquettes produced in various ratios ranging from 1:3 to 1:8 bagasse to WCO. The manual hydraulic press briquette machine is used for the production of briquettes. The physical properties of the briquettes are analyzed using calorific value (CV) and compressive strength. These physical properties are measured using an automatic calorimeter and a universal testing machine. FTIR was used to determine the chemical composition of the briquettes. The average CV of dry bagasse is approximately 21000 kJ/kg. The 1:8 briquettes observed the highest CV at 41141 kJ/kg, while the 1:3 ratio sample displayed the lowest at 26465 kJ/kg. The standard deviation of 7338 for the briquetted CV is significant. The findings show that an increased CV positively correlates with the amount of WCO. Compressive strength values are 6 MPa (1:3) and 6.1 MPa (1:8) ratio. The standard deviation of strength was 0.05. Based on the standard deviation, adding WCO did not significantly enhance the compressive strength of the briquettes. Chemical compositions are obtained by FTIR analysis, which shows that the 1:3 ratio has a phenolic, amide, and C-O component compared to the 1:8 sample. The 1:3 ratio is less harmful to the environment; however, the 1:8 ratio is useful to obtain a higher CV. Considering these findings, industries can develop high-energy-density briquettes to enhance energy efficiency and reduce environmental impact.