A Study of Charcoal Burning Process and Properties of Briquetted Charcoal from Vetiver Grass

Abstract

          This purpose of this research was to study the charcoal burning process and briquetted charcoal properties from vetiver grass. The samples were Don Vetiver grass burned by the 200 liter- vertical tank. The charcoal powder from burning the vetiver grass mixed with tapioca starch as a binder. There are 5 ratios of the charcoal powder (kilograms) and the binder (liters) as followings 0.5:1, 1.0:1, 1.5:1, 2.0:1, 2.5:1, respectively. The forming process was shaped by cold-pressed processes in block shape. Then the charcoal properties were determined. The results showed that the total time for burning the charcoal is about 120 minutes with maximum furnace temperature as 830 ° C. The percentage of charcoal is 17.84 ± 0.45. The briquetted charcoals at the ratio of 2.5:1 were not able to shape. Amount of charcoal powder for mixing was directly proportional to the ash content but inverse effects on the combustible substances. However, volatile matter and fixed carbon showed no significantly differences (P>0.05). Moreover, The briquetted charcoal at ratio of 1.5:1 passed all tested requirements, showed the optimal ratio for the briquetted charcoals from vetiver grass with thermal energy of 5,335±4.95 cal/g are the highest efficiency compared to the benchmark of community standard for charcoal production.