Coconut biofuels
Description
The purpose of this research work is the elaboration of solid biofuels using coconut (Cocos Nucifera) residues as biomass, due to the copious quantities of coconut harvested in Ecuador. The work began with the collection of the raw material, and then went through various stages, pre-treatment, drying, grinding, sieving, mixing, pelletizing, and briquetting, as well as an investigation of several types of binders, choosing cassava starch as the most optimal. Two different compositions were made, having coconut biomass (90%-70%) and cassava starch (10%-30%) respectively for the two types of biofuels. The variables for the physicochemical evaluation of the dry biomass and biofuels were established, which were: Calorific value, apparent density, humidity, volatile material, fixed carbon, ash, combustion point and consumption rate (normalized mass), in addition to resistance tests (friability index) for pellets and briquettes. The results obtained indicate that sample PCA91 had the best results, complying with most of the parameters evaluated, the most important being the calorific value with 15350 J/g and a moisture percentage of 11.54%, likewise the rest of the samples prepared complied mostly with the values established in the regulations used to produce biofuels.