Particle size, drying method, water

temperature and husk-to-bran ratio are

important factors influencing the
hardness of briquettes at constant
pressure

S.A. Ndindeng, J.E.G. Mbassi*, M. BihLoh Achu, W.F. Mbacham, J.T. Manful
S.Ndindeng@cgiar.org

Introduction
In regions of the world where
rice is produced especially in
SSA countries, poor treatment
and disposal of rice by-products
is a serious problem as this
results in pollution.

Rubber roll
mill

Dehusking

In these communities rubber roll

mills are advantageous not only
because they produce better
quality milled rice but also because
they produce separate husk and
bran
Polishin
g

Introduction
Rice bran is often used in in SSA countries as
an ingredient in the production of livestock
feed.

BRA
N

HUS
K

Recently some authors have pointed out the

possibility of using rice bran as a supplement
in the production of biscuits and cookies
(Bunde, 2010; Yadav, 2011).
Unlike the bran, rice husk is not used for any
purpose in SSA countries and the huge
mounts behind rice mills is usually set on
fire and it burns slowly as it is produced.
Some authors have indicated the possibility
of using rice husk ash as a partial substitute
for cement (Brown, 2012).

Introduction
However, in areas where Engelberg-type
mills are common, the husk is usually mixed
with the bran, making both by-products
unsuitable for livestock feed production.
Briquetting of husk from rubber roll mills and
husk mixed with bran from Engelberg mills
for fuel wood has been suggested as
alternative means to add-value to these byproducts especially for communities that
need fuel wood for other rice processing
activities such as parboiling.
Such a briquetting process must also ensure
that it does not incorporate material in the
briquettes that will render the ash unusable
either as a cement substitute or in ceramics.

De-husking and
Polishing

Briquette
s

Objectives
Overall
To add value to husk and husk mixed with bran through
briquetting to achieve the required hardness and burning
parameters.
Specific
Produce a briquetting machine
Use machine to produce briquettes while varying the
following factors:

Particle size
Husk : Bran ratio
Water temperature
Drying method

Measure the hardness of different briquettes

Methodology of briquette production

Biomass
collection

Husk
Bran

Ratio

Grinding

Sieving
Water
[Hot = 97
o
C] [Cold =
27oC]

Large, Pore size (mm2) = 2<PS 67

Medium Pore size = 0,49<PS 2
Fine, Pore size = PS 0,49

Mixing
Briquetting (press)
Drying
Strength analysis on
briquettes

Open air
In the oven (70C)

Results and Discussions

Hydraulic Pump briquetting
machine (2 tons)
Lid
Support

Cylindrical
tube

Bar
Piston

Pressure
pump
Open/closed
pump

Lever

Results and Discussions

uence of proportion of husk and bran on the hardness of briquet

Drying method= Sun, Drying time = 14 days, water proportion= 1,5, water temp= hot (97C),
Particle size =fine,

More bran leads to

harder briquettes

Mean +- 2 Std Err Hardness (Kg)

14
12
10
8
6
4
2
N=

1:1

1:2

1:0

0:1

2:1

Ratio of husk to bran

Sokhansanj and co-workers

(2005) identified that feed
material containing higher
proportions of starch and
protein will produce higher
quality briquettes than
material high in cellulosic
material.

Results and Discussions

Influence of drying method on the hardness of
briquettes

Drying time = 7, water proportion= 1,5, water temp= hot, Particle size =fine, Ratio husk to bran=1:1

Sun drying had the best

effect on the hardness of the
briquettes.

Mean +- 2 Std Err Hardness (Kg)

8.0
7.5
7.0
6.5
6.0
5.5
N=

Oven and Sun

Sun only

Drying method

Michel and Autio (2001):

During drying, the
amylopectin portion of the
starch granule recrystallizes,
and increases the rigidity of
starch gels

Results and Discussions

ence of temperature of water used for mixture on the hardness

Mean +- 2 Std Err Hardness (Kg)

Drying method= Sun, Drying time = 14, Particle size =fine, water proportion= 1,5, Ratio husk to bran=1:1
10
8
6
4
2
0
N=

Hot (97)

Cold (27)

Hot water modifies physicochemical properties

(gelatinization of starch,
denaturation of protein) and
binding between particles is
greatly enhanced resulting in
improved physical briquettes
quality (Thomas et al. 1997)

Water temp for briquetting (oC)

Warm water influence positively on the hardness of

briquettes

Results and Discussions

fluence of Particle size on the hardness of the briquettes

Drying method= Sun, Drying time = 21, water proportion= 1,5, water temp = hot, Ratio husk to bran=1:1

Mean+- 2 Std Err Hardness (Kg)

12
11
10
9
8

Fine

Medium

Large

6
5
4
N=

Fine

Medium
Particle size

Mani and co-workers (2003)

report that smaller particle sizes
produce
higher
density
briquettes.

Conclusions and Recommendations

Husk-Bran mixture of 1:1 from Engelberg mills and
husk alone (1:0) from rubber roll mills gave
briquettes of good hardness (7-9 kg).
The highest hardness were achieved from a
combination of the following factors:
Particle size: Fine (PS 0,49)
Water temperature: Hot (97C)

Combinati
on

Drying method: Sun

drying/Open air
Drying time: 21 days

Thanks for your

kind attention