Characterization of Indiginously Developed KPK Coal Briquettes

Abstract

The aim of this study was to look into the feasibility of using the run of mine waste coal micron size particles in producing value added coal briquettes. Varying strengths of low cost and readily available starch and poly vinyl acetate (PVA) were used as the organic binders. In devising a mechanism for the local (KPK region of Pakistan) low cost coal up-gradation, this work has looked into developing the coal briquettes of acceptable combustion and mechanical properties. This has been achieved by identifying the optimum composition of run of mine micron sized waste coal, binding and filler materials to give the acceptable levels of compression strength, and ease of combustion in both open and confined places. A mechanical briquetting machine was indigenously designed with the aim of low cost local technology transfer. The briquetted products were then analyzed for their mechanical properties by the Universal Testing Machine (UTM). The surface structure and/or composition were also explored with the help of a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The UTM results showed that the briquettes made with starch binder had good compression strength (4000N) in comparison to others. This was also confirmed by the SEM analysis which showed low surface porosity for starch blended briquettes. The low surface porosity also resulted in showing a high water absorption resistance and shatter index hence giving high compression strength values.