Value addition of coal fines and sawdust to briquettes using molasses as a binder

In this study, the co-briquetting of coal fines saw dust and molasses as a binder is explored as an option for value addition of the wastes generated in the various industries. The effect of the saw dust concentration and the molasses concentration was investigated through measuring the briquette's calorific value, fixed carbon, compressive strength and shatter index. Addition of Ca(OH)₂ was done to effect removal of sulphur from the briquette. Measurements of the briquettes physicochemical properties such as moisture content, ash content and sulphur content were measured using the standard methods. As the saw dust and the molasses concentration increased, the calorific value, fixed carbon and compressive strength increased by 16%, 8% and 50% respectively. Whereas, the shatter index decreased by 146% as the saw dust and the molasses concentration increased in relation to the coal fines. Addition of the saw dust and the molasses are therefore critical in the production of a high quality coal-saw dust-molasses briquette which does not shatter.