Characteristics of Composite Rice Straw and Coconut Shell as Biomass Energy Resources (Briquette)(Case study: Muara Telang Village, Banyuasin of South Sumatra)

Abstract

Rice straw and coconut shell as Solid residues are, biomass residue materials that are not optimally used by farmers in Muara Telang and potentially become environmental pollutant. These residues are used as an alternative energy which are biomass briquettes. Post-harvest produced 114 tons yield of rice straw and 80 tons yield of coconut shell. Mostly these residues were burned and produced environmental gas pollutant such as  CO, CO₂ and NOx emissions. Rice straw and coconut shell have carbon compound that contained in the fixed carbon (FC), which flammable and became energy resources. Rice straw has 15.61% of FC and coconut shell has 78.32% of FC. Rice straw fuel value is 1525.5 cal/gram while  coconut shell has 7283.5 cal/gram of fuel value. The fuel value of biobriquette in ratio 50:50 is 4354.50 cal / gram. This fuel value close to coal fuel value between 4000 - 8000 cal / gram.