Studies on Characterisation of Biomass Fuel

Current investigation was followed by characterization of pigeonpea briquettes, soybean briquettes and Prosopis juliflora. Proximate, ultimate and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of, pigeonpea and soybean briquettes was done by standard procedure and compared with Prosopis juliflora (woody biomass). The calorific value of Prosopis juliflora, pigeonpea and soybean briquettes was 18.41, 18.52 and 18.35 MJ/ kg, respectively. The volatile matter content of Prosopis juliflora, pigeonpea and soybean briquettes was 83.64, 76.02 and 76.89 % (d.b.), respectively. The ash content of Prosopis juliflora, pigeonpea and soybean briquettes was 1.14, 5.01 and 6.11 % (d.b.), respectively. The carbon content of Prosopis juliflora, pigeonpea and soybean briquettes was 49.86, 43.35 and 39.9 %, respectively. Thermogravimetric analysis of Prosopis juliflora, pigeonpea and soybean briquettes was done at 10, 20, 30 and 40 oC heating rate. It was found that at 30 oC heating rate the thermal decomposition of pigeonpea and soybean briquettes was same as Prosopis juliflora