INNOVATIVE DEVELOPMENT AND PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT OF AN ECO-FRIENDLY, COST-EFFECTIVE STARTER FOR SUSTAINABLE CHARCOALBRIQUETTE PRODUCTION IN NIGERIA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62050/fjst2026.v10.n2.768Keywords:
Charcoal briquettes, Combustion efficiency, Eco-friendly starter, Emissions reduction, Sustainable energy, NigeriaAbstract
The demand for sustainable energy solutions has led to the development of eco-friendly charcoal briquettes. This study focuses on the design, development, and evaluation of a cost-effective starter for charcoal briquettes in Nigeria. The starter is formulated using locally available materials to enhance ignition efficiency while minimizing environmental impact. Performance assessments, including combustion efficiency, ignition time, and emissions analysis, were conducted to validate its effectiveness. Results indicate that the developed starter significantly reduces ignition time and smoke emissions compared to conventional methods, making it a viable alternative for sustainable energy applications.
Downloads
References
Adebayo, S. E. and Hassan, O. (2019). Comparative analysis of ignition sources for biomass briquettes. Journal of Renewable Energy, 6(2), 85–93.
Ajagbe, C. A., Zainuddin, M. F., Manaf, L. A., Ab Rahim, N. N. R. N. and Anguruwa, G. T. (2025). Comparative analysis of carbonised hybrid briquettes produced from cassava peel and sawdust for cooking application. Pertanika Journal of Science & Technology, 33(1), 531–555.
Ali, A., Kumari, M., Manisha, Tiwari, S., Kumar, M., Chhabra, D. and Sahdev, R. K. (2024). Insight into the biomass-based briquette generation from agro-residues: Challenges, perspectives, and innovations. BioEnergy Research, 17, 816–856. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12155-023-10712-5
ASTM International (1996). ASTM E711-87 (1996): Standard Test Method for Gross Calorific Value of Refuse-derived Fuel by the Bomb Calorimeter. (Public access reprint).
ASTM International (2023). ASTM E711-23e1: Standard Test Method for gross calorific value of refuse-derived fuel by the bomb calorimeter. ASTM International.
Bond, T. C., Doherty, S. J., Fahey, D. W., Forster, P. M., Berntsen, T., DeAngelo, B. J., Flanner, M. G., Ghan, S., Kärcher, B., Koch, D., Kinne, S., Kondo, Y., Quinn, P. K., Sarofim, M. C., Schultz, M. G., Schulz, M., Venkataraman, C., Zhang, H., Zhang, S., Bellouin, N., Guttikunda, S. K., Hopke, P. K., Jacobson, M. Z., Kaiser, J. W., Klimont, Z., Lohmann, U., Schwarz, J. P., Shindell, D., Storelvmo, T., Warren, S. G. and Zender, C. S. (2013). Bounding the role of black carbon in the climate system: A scientific assessment. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 118(11), 5380–5552. https://doi.org/10.1002/jgrd.50171
Bruce, N., Smith, K. R., Balmes, J., Pope, D., Dherani, M., Zhang, J., Duan, X., Bates, M., Lin, W., Adair-Rohani, H., Mehta, S., Cohen, A. and McCracken, J. (2014). Health effects of household air pollution exposure: Technical review for the WHO indoor air quality guidelines—Household fuel combustion. World Health Organization.
Das, R., Mondal, M. K. and Pramanik, S. (2023). Enhancement of Strength of Composite Briquettes using an ANOVA-based model. Ironmaking & Steelmaking.
Ejikeme, E. M., Enemuo, M. S. and Ejikeme, P. C. N. (2021). Thermal and emission characteristics of carbonised and uncarbonised rice husk briquettes: A comparative approach. Journal of the Nigerian Society of Chemical Engineers, 36(2).
European Biomass Industry Association (EUBIA) (2024). Biomass characteristics and energy content. https://www.eubia.org/cms/wiki-biomass/biomass-characteristics-2/
Ezéchiel, K., Joel, T. K., Soulouknga, M. H. and Roger, D. D. (2023). Production and characterization of ecological fire starter from sawdust and vegetable oil. Heliyon, 9(8), e18253. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e18253
Fedak, K. M., Good, N., Dahlke, J., Hecobian, A., Sullivan, A., Zhou, Y., Peel, J. L. and Volckens, J. (2018). Chemical composition and emissions factors for cookstove startup (ignition) materials. Environmental Science & Technology, 52(16), 9505–9513. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.8b02218 Kebede, T., Berhe, D. T. and Zergaw, Y. (2022). Combustion characteristics of briquette fuel produced from biomass residues and binding materials. Journal of Energy, 4222205.
Kpalo, S. Y., Zainuddin, M. F., Manaf, L. A., Roslan, A. M. and Ab Rahim, N. N. R. N. (2022). Techno-economic viability assessment of a household-scale agricultural residue composite briquette project for rural communities in Nigeria. Sustainability, 14(15), 9399.
Lam, N. L., Smith, K. R., Gauthier, A. and Bates, M. N. (2012). Kerosene: A review of household uses and their hazards in low- and middle-income countries. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health: Part B, 15(6), 396–432. https://doi.org/10.1080/10937404.2012.710134
Musonda, C. and Luwaya, E. (2025). Performance evaluation of biomass briquettes produced with starch, molasses, and clay binders under Zambian conditions: A comparative study. Energy and Power, 14(1), 1–11.
Nganko, J. M., Koffi, E. P. M., Touré, A. O., Gbaha, P., Tiogue, C. T., Ndiaye, B., Ba, K. and Yao, K. B. (2025). Comparative assessment of pollutant emissions between biofuel briquettes and charcoal: Implications for domestic cooking fuel selection. Carbon Research, 4. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44246-024-00177-2
Njenga, M., Gitau, J. K., Mendum, R., Kimani, P. O. and Ochieng, S. T. (2020). Comparative analysis of traditional and alternative briquette starters. Biomass & Bioenergy, 134, 105478. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2020.105478
Odediran, B. S., Chindo, Y. and Giwa, S. O. (2025). Biomass briquettes for sustainable households and climate resilience in Nigeria. Journal of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, 30(3).
Omole, A. O., Areo, O. S., Adejoba, A. L., Aguda, O. L. and Afolabi, S. O. (2023). Acceptability of briquette products: A panacea to sustainable energy generation in Nigeria. Renewable Energy, University of Ibadan.
Ondari, B. O., Kimutai, S. and Mukubwa, E. (2025). Combustion characteristics of briquettes of different agricultural wastes: A review. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Applied Science, 10(6), 1654–1662.
Otieno, A. O., Home, P. G., Raude, J. M., Murunga, S. I. and Gachanja, A. (2022). Heating and emission characteristics from co-combustion of charcoal with faecal-char/sawdust-char briquettes in a ceramic cookstove. Heliyon, 8(8), e10272.
Penn State Extension (2024). Characteristics of biomass as a heating fuel. Penn State University. https://extension.psu.edu/characteristics-of-biomass-as-a-heating-fuel
Raw Materials Research & Development Council (RMRDC) (2025, March 24). Charcoal Evolved: The Briquette Solution for Nigeria’s Future.
Saleh, A. and Yusha’u, A. A. (2022). Production and evaluation of biomass briquettes from rice husk using different binders. Nigerian Journal of Engineering Science Research, 5(2), 92–102.
Sarita, V. B. and Bohol, J. D. (2025). Performance efficiency of binding agents in coconut charcoal briquettes. International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation, 12(3).
Turns, S. R. (2012). An Introduction to Combustion: Concepts and Applications (3rd ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.
Vershinina, K., Dorokhov, V., Romanov, D. and Strizhak, P. (2022). Ignition, combustion, and mechanical properties of briquettes from coal slime and oil waste, biomass, peat, and starch. Waste and Biomass Valorization, 13, 4221–4238.
World Health Organization (2014). WHO guidelines for indoor air quality: Household fuel combustion. World Health Organization.
World Health Organization (2014). WHO indoor air quality guidelines: Household fuel combustion (full report PDF).
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
How to Cite
