Aerial Roots of Ficus elastica as Partial Substitute in Making Briquette

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

The rising prices of liquefied petroleum gas is a perennial problem confronting many households. Finding alternatives such as firewood is least in priority because of the government’s prohibition of cutting down trees. Hence, it is but fitting to look for other alternative such as briquettes from materials that are not so often used. These premises prompted the researchers to investigate the use of Ficus elastica as partial substitute in making briquette.

METHODS

Aerial roots of Ficus elastica were collected, burned, pulverized, and set aside. On the other hand, 150 mL of hot water was mixed with 100 grams of flour that serves as the binder. The 100 grams of pulverized charcoal was mixed with the binder. Then the mixture was molded to form a 2.5 inches briquette and dried for 2weeks. The briquette made of aerial roots of Ficus elastica was made to undergo proximate analysis (moisture content, volatile matter content, ash content and fixed carbon).

RESULTS

Proximate analysis of sample briquettes show that its moisture content is 46.8%, its volatile matter content is 35.5%, its ash content is 7.88% and fixed carbon is 56.6%. Compared to commercial briquettes, the samples have higher volatile matter content, moisture content, fixed carbon and lower ash content.

DISCUSSIONS

Results show that compared to commercial briquettes, the samples have higher moisture content, volatile matter content and fixed carbon while the ash content was lower. Higher moisture content means that the sample is prone to common molds, high volatile matter content have lower heating value, high fixed carbon content may be difficult to ignite but they will often burn steadily for a long time. On the other hand, the lower the ash content, the better the coal.