Evaluation of Briquettes Produced from Four Selected Sawdusts Combination at Quaternary Levels

The objective of this paper is to evaluate briquettes produced through quaternary level combination of four types of common sawdusts from major wood sources. This was achieved by producing seven briquettes made up of four primary sawdusts and three from combinations of all primary saw dusts in rations of 25% each, 60/40 rations of A and B and C and D and vice versa (i.e. 40/60 %). The sawdust samples are from four different wood species; Terminalia superba (Afara), Khaya ivorensis (Mohagany), Anogeissus leiocarpus (Marke) and Isoberlina doka (Ububa/Doka). The samples of the sawdust were collected from selected sawmills in Kaduna, Nigeria. Proximate analysis was applied when evaluating the produced briquettes. The results of proximate analysis for the seven sawdust briquette samples tested shows the range of values as; moisture content is 4.3 – 5.0%, ash content (0.7 – 4.2)%, volatile matter (81.5 – 90.8)% and fixed carbon (7.7 – 18.0)%. Calorific Values (CV) are within the range of (17.202 – 18.933) MJ/Kg. The results of proximate analysis of all seven sawdust briquette produced shows that heterogeneous sawdust samples at quaternary levels (or perhaps even at higher levels) of combination do not necessarily produce briquette with much higher CV, as shown in difference between the highest and lowest CVs obtained with a difference of 1.072 MJ/kg.