APEC Youth Scientist Journal Vol.6 / No.

PRODUCTION OF HOMEMADE BIOMASS BRIQUETTES FROM

DRIED SYZYGIUM SAMARANGENSE (MAKOPA) LEAVES

Amielle Marie M. Urgel1

Philippine Science High School- Central Visayas Campus, Talaytay, Argao, Cebu, PHILIPPINES

ABSTRACT
Briquettes were produced from dried Syzygium samarangense leaves using paper as
binder. The briquettes were compared based on their physical and chemical properties. The
briquettes with 37.5% biomass yielded the longest burning time and longest ignition time.
While the briquettes with 0% biomass yielded the shortest burning time and the shortest
ignition time. The briquette with 0% biomass proved to be the strongest among the three. The
briquettes with 50% and 37.5% biomass did not break under about 2100 grams but only bent.
The results of the study show the potential of using dried S. samarangense leaves as a source
of making biomass briquettes.

1. INTRODUCTION
1.1. Background of Study
Charcoal is one of the most important energy sources due to its large quantity and
distribution. But the use of coal brings many problems one being the emission of greenhouse
gases such as CO2 and SO2 and pollution. This is one reason why people are looking for other
sources of energy.
Various options have been examined such as the use of natural gas, biomass, solar
energy, wind power, and many others. Among the options is the use of biomass briquettes.
The use of briquettes solve other problems such as large accumulation of ash and it has a

Correspondence to : Amielle Marie M. Urgel (amielle.marie.m.urgel@gmail.com)

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higher thermal efficiency than loose biomass burning [5]. According to Fulford and Wheldon
(2013), biomass briquettes replace fossil fuels or wood for cooking and industrial processes.
They are cleaner and easier to handle, and cut greenhouse gas emissions.
The Philippine Department of Energy is currently promoting the development and
widespread use of biomass. But there is a limited commercial production of biomass
briquettes in the country. Nine commercial firms in the year 1996 produced amounts ranging
from 1 ton/day to 50 tons/day. Four pilot briquetting plants have stopped operation.
Briquettes are produced from sawdust, charcoal fines and/or rice husk. However, another
problem has evolved in the production of biomass. In the Philippines, the conversion cost
from biomass to briquette is very high. [6]
In some countries, buying fuel for cooking may take as much as half of a familys
income, and many families can afford to cook only once or twice a day. However, individual
households can reduce their need for wood and charcoal by making their own fuel, called fuel
briquettes, from waste plant materials in their own environment. [3]
Syzygium samarangense (Makopa) is a tree, reaching to about 40 to 60ft in height. It
contains evergreen leaves that are approximately 6 to 18 in long, and 3 to 8 in wide. It bears
smooth, waxy, bell-shape fruit with colors of red-rose to crimson and sometimes white. The
tree is presumed to be a native of Malaysia. It is commonly cultivated and abundant in
tropical countries like the Philippines. Only a few studies were made on the utilization of the
makopa fruit and the makopa leaves. One of them was the usage of makopa leaves as an
alternative medicine for lowering blood sugar. The makopa leaves are carbonaceous which
make these a possible biomass in the production of biomass briquettes.

1.2. Objectives of the Study

The study aims to fabricate biomass briquettes and identify the potential of Syzygium
samarangense (Makopa) leaves for the production of biomass briquettes. The study
specifically aims to:
a. Produce biomass briquettes from S. samarangense (Makopa) leaves;
b. Determine the efficiency of the homemade biomass briquette using ignition test,
burning duration ; and
c. Determine the strength of the biomass briquette.

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1.3. Significance of the Study

This study can give information about the potential of S. samarangense as a source of
making biomass briquettes. In response to the growing concern about the harmful effects
brought by charcoal to the society, this study focuses on the production of biomass briquettes
from the leaves of the Makopa tree. This will aid in the world-wide awareness of the problem
with charcoal. The success of this study partially confirms the efficiency of the plant as a
competent biomass in briquette production.

1.4. Scope and Limitations

This study will utilize the leaves from S. samarangense which will be collected from
Mandaue City, Cebu, as the raw material for the production of biomass briquettes. The
analysis of the samples will be done in Mandaue City, Cebu. The study will only focus in the
physical properties, efficiency, and the moisture content of the biomass. This study will only
be conducted only as a lab study and will not be conducted for large-scale production. The
production of the briquettes will be made using ordinary home tools. The binder used was
soaked newspaper and the briquettes produced contained 0%, 37.5%, and 50% biomass v/v
soaked newspaper fibers.

2. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

2.1. Renewable Energy
Renewable energy is energy that comes from resources that exist infinitely. Examples
of these sources are biomass, wind, water, and the sun. These are also called green energy
because of its availability in nature. [1]

2.2. Biomass Briquettes

Briquettes are flammable materials formed from the compression or densification of
matter into solid form to be used as fuel. Briquetting is a process of binding together
pulverized carbonaceous matter, often with aid of a binder. The common forms of briquettes
are the coal briquettes and the biomass briquettes. Biomass briquettes originate from mostly
agricultural residues. This includes the charcoal briquettes. By converting the agricultural
residues to briquettes, a number of advantages can be derived. These advantages include the
fact that briquettes provide an easier way of getting energy supply for cooking and ironing of

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clothes because the briquettes can be transported easily than the agricultural wastes ; and the
raw material for making briquettes are sourced from materials that would have been chunked,
and as such it converts waste to energy. Briquetting increases strength, density, heat emitted
per volume of the biomass. [2]
Briquettes may be produced with or without binders. The particles must bind properly
during compression; otherwise, the briquettes might crumble easily. Pressure, heat, moisture,
and size reduction are therefore necessary in the process of making high quality briquettes.
The binders can be organic or inorganic agents. Some of the identified binders of organic
nature are heavy crude oil, starch and molasses. The inorganic binders include clay, sodium
silicate and cement. The binder types, amount of binder agent and water addition, have
significant effects on the thermal behavior and combustion of the briquettes. The combustion
characteristics of the briquettes may be determined based on different parameters such as the
reaction kinetics and the water boiling tests. [2]

2.3. Syzygium samarangense

Magnoliophyta
Magnoliopsida
Myrtales
Myrtaceae
Syzygium
S. samarangense

S. samarangense or Makopa is a fruit that is presumed to be a native of Malaysia. It is

commonly cultivated from Java to the Philippines and Vietnam, also in Bengal and South
India. The Makopa is a tropical species. In the Philippines, the tree bears fruit during the
summer season (March- June). The fruit is usually eaten raw or is an ingredient in a stew or
red and white wine. The timber is reddish, tough and heavy. In Hawaii, it is used to make
bowls and poi boards.
The Makopa is also used as a medicine. In some indigenous groups, a decoction of the
bark is used to treat thrush; and a preparation f the roots is a remedy for relieving itching and
is also used to alleviate edema. The leaves, fruits and bark of the Makopa show antibiotic
activity and has an effect on blood pressure and respiration. [5]

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3. MATERIALS AND METHODS

3.1. Research Design

This is an experimental study. The experimental procedures of this research will be
carried out in typical home environment in Mandaue City, Cebu. This study is patterned from
the methods of the study by Lockard on how to make biomass briquettes without a press,
with slight modifications. There will be three types of homemade biomass briquettes, these
have 0% , 37.5%, and 50% biomass v/v mixture. Each test will have three trials each. The
biomass briquette with 0% biomass will be used as control. Ordinary house hold equipment
will be used to produce the biomass briquette.

3.2. Preparation of Raw Materials

Leaves were taken from a mature Makopa tree weighed and were dried for 3 days.
Strips of newspaper were cut (weighing 50 grams) and soaked into 25 liters of water for three
days. On the third day, the soaked newspaper strips were stirred and crushed until only the
fibers of the newspaper were seen. This mixture will serve as the binder for the biomass
briquette. The dried leaves were then weighed and the moisture content was calculated using
Equation 2. The leaves were shredded into about 4mm.
Dry mass = initial weight/ final weight * 100

Eq. 1

Moisture content= 100- dry mass

Eq. 2

3.3. Preparation of own briquette press

A 500 mL tin can was washed and dried. Five holes were drilled at the bottom using a
screw and a screw driver. Thirty six circles of cardboard were cut, pasted together, and
wrapped with masking tape to prevent the cardboard press from falling apart.

3.4. Production of Biomass Briquettes

In the first setup, three cups of crushed dried leaves were mixed with three cups of
soaked newspaper. A plastic bag with five holes cut at the bottom was then fit n the tin can.
Half of the can was then filled with the mixture of biomass and soaked newspaper. The
mixture was then pressed using the cardboard presser until a very minimal amount of water
would be squeezed out of it. This was repeated seven times and dried under the sun for two
days. The second setup required five cups of soaked newspaper and three cups of the biomass.

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The third setup included forty grams of newspaper and twenty litres of water. This was then
mixed and soaked for two days. The new newspaper mixture was mixed until only the fibers
of the newspaper strips were seen. A new plastic bag was used every setup and the same
procedures were made each setup having seven briquettes.

3.6. Ignition Test and Burning Duration

The ignition test was done by igniting each briquette sample. The time required for
the flame to ignite the briquette was recorded as the ignition time using a stopwatch. The time
required for the briquette to burn out completely was also recorded using a stopwatch.
3.5. Mechanical strength test
Different weights were put on top of each type of biomass briquette. Three trials were
done for each type of biomass. Weights were added until the briquettes cracked.

4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The comparison of the parameters obtained from the briquettes made with 50%
biomass, 37.5 % biomass and 0% biomass is provided in Table 1 below.

Briquette
Type
50 %
biomass

37.5%
biomass

Table 1: Characteristics of the Briquettes during the Ignition Test

and Burning Duration Test.
Burning
Time of
Flame Color
Test
Duration
ignition
and
Characteristics
No.
(minutes:
(seconds)
Characteristics
seconds)
Faint aroma of
Orange; small
1
23:50
burning leaves;
flame
smoke was not thick
Faint aroma of
Orange; small
7
2
19:14
burning leaves;
flame
smoke was not thick
Faint aroma of
Orange; small
3
23:54
burning leaves;
flame
smoke was not thick
Faint aroma of
Orange; small
1
8
55:18
burning leaves;
flame
faint smoke
Faint aroma of
Orange; small
2
10
42:03
burning leaves; faint
flame
smoke
Faint aroma of
Orange; small
3
7
50:14
burning leaves; faint
flame
smoke
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0% biomass

Orange; small
No aroma; faint
flame
smoke
Orange; small
No aroma; faint
2
6
19:49
flame
smoke
Orange; small
No aroma; faint
3
5
13:53
flame
smoke
The ignition time for briquettes with 0% biomass have the lowest mean time
1

13:41

with a time of 5.33 seconds whilst the ignition time for the briquettes with 37.5% biomass
has the highest mean time of 8.33 seconds. This is because the ease with which a briquette
will ignite depends largely on the slack used. Briquettes made from fine slack ignite less
readily than those from coarser slack. [4] The ones with 0% biomass is made of 100% paper
which was soaked and pressed. The paper briquette is more fine in terms of its constituents
rather than those with 50% and 37.5% biomass.
The burning duration of the biomass briquettes with 37.5% biomass has a mean time
of 49.12 minutes, but they give off a faint scent of burning leaves and produce a faint smoke.
This type of biomass briquette has the longest burning time. The biomass briquettes with 0%
biomass have the shortest burning time (15.48 minutes) but do not give off an aroma and
produces faint smoke. The briquettes with 50% biomass produced a thin smoke and a faint
aroma, and had a mean burning duration of 22.06 minutes. All of the briquettes produced the
same type of flame- orange and small.
The briquettes should burn with a clear, intense flame, and without odor or smoke.
The burning of the briquette and the flame produced, as well as the smoke given off, will
depend largely on the quality of the slack used and on the completeness of the combustion.
Binders also affect the production of smoke. Organic binders as starch/ molasses, paper or
sulphite-liquor residues likewise do not volatilize until decomposed, and hence do not
produce smoke, or produce little smoke. [4]
Table 2: Characteristics of the Briquettes during the Mechanical Strength Test
Weight added to the
Briquette Type
Test No.
briquette
Remarks
(grams)
1
2191.1
Bent
50% biomass
2
2091.1
Bent
3
2091.1
Bent
1
2291.1
Bent
37.5% biomass
2
2291.1
Cracked
3
2291.1
Bent
1
2291.1
Nothing happened
0% biomass
2
2291.1
Nothing happened
3
2291.1
Nothing happened

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In the biomass briquettes that have 50% biomass, they started to bend at a mean value
of 2124.43 grams. Those with 37.5% biomass started to bend at 2291.1 grams. One of the test
samples cracked due to the orientation of the briquette and the surface of the briquette was
not leveled during the pressing. Most of the briquettes produced had a thin center and thick
sides. The briquettes with 0% biomass did not have any significant changes when a weight of
2291.1 grams was added.
The briquettes with 50% and 37.5% biomass acted like cardboard. Thus, when weight
was added to them, they just bent or were pressed even further. The briquettes with 0%
biomass were hard but porous and required greater weight to crack them.

5. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Briquettes were produced from dried S .samarangense leaves using ordinary
household materials. The briquettes produced were porous and still needed more pressing.
The briquettes with 37.5% biomass produced the longest burning time and longest ignition
time; while the briquettes with 0% biomass gave the shortest burning time and the shortest
ignition time. In terms of strength, the briquette with 0% biomass would be considered the
strongest while the biomass briquettes with 50% and 37.5% biomass were also strong but
needed more pressing. This serves as a pilot study on producing biomass briquettes from S.
samarangense leaves. This also shows the potential of the biomass as a source in producing
biomass briquettes.
It is recommended that more tests should be made to check the efficiency and strength
of the biomass briquette. For the briquette to burn evenly, a hole should be made in the
middle of the briquette. The equipment used to make the biomass briquette could be changed
to obtain optimum results.

6. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to make special mentions to Ms. Emily Raboy, Ms. Marivic Torrenuevo,
and Ms. Marysia Frances Urgel for their assistance and support throughout the experiment. I
would also like to mention Professor Ashwani Gupta for his wise words that aided the
researcher in the process of finding a biomass for the study.

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7. APPENDIX

Weight before drying leaves: 162 grams

Weight after drying leaves: 84 grams

Moisture content of the biomass: 48.148 % after being dried for 3 days.

Table 3: Weight of different briquettes

Briquette Type

Briquette No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

50% biomass

37.5% biomass

0% biomass

Weight (grams)
20
20
20
20
19
20
18
10
20
19
19
19
20
19
20
20
10
20
20
30
10

8. REFERENCES
[1] eSchoolToday. Renewable Energy. 2010
(http://www.eschooltoday.com/energy/renewable-energy/what-is-renewableenergy.html)
[2] Kenechukwu Ugwu, Kevin Agbo. Evaluation of Binders in the Production of
Briquettes from Empty Fruit Bunches of Elais Guinensis. International Journal of
Renewable and Sustainable Energy. Vol. 2, No. 4, 2013, pp. 176-179. doi:
10.11648/j.ijrse.20130204.17
[3] Lockard, J. HOW TO MAKE FUEL BRIQUETTES WITHOUT A PRESS.
Beaverton Rotary Club, OR, USA.
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[4] Mills, James E. BINDERS FOR COAL BRIQUETS: INVESTIGATIONS MADE AT

THE FUEL-TESTING PLANT,ST. LOUIS, M0.Vol. 71. 1901
[5] Myrtacae. Malay Apple. 1987.
[6] P.D. Grover & S.K. Mishra. BIOMASS BRIQUETTING TECHNOLOGY AND
PRACTICES. FAO Regional Wood Energy Development Programme in Asia,
[7] Bangkok, Thailand. April 1996
[8] Yanhong Yan, Zhining Jiaa, Yulin Yang. Preparation and Mechanical Properties
of PTFE/nano-EG Composites Reinforced with Nanoparticles. Procedia
Environmental Sciences 10 ( 2011 ) 929 935

Amielle Marie M.
Urgel

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