Avaliação dos briquetes produzidos a partir de resíduos de processamento de algodão provenientes da Mozambique Cotton Manufactures (MCM)

Abstract

The present work aimed to evaluate the quality of briquettes produced from waste gen- erated during cotton processing at Mozambique Cotton Manufactures (MCM), a textile industry located in the district of Marracuene in the province of Maputo. Initially, the waste (seeds, husks and cotton threads) collected at Mozambique Cotton Manufac- tures, were subjected to particle size analysis, bulk density, ash content, volatile content and fixed carbon content tests. Carbonized and non-carbonized briquettes were then produced at a pressure of 10 MPa, a temperature of 150oC, and a grain size of 0.075 to 1 mm. The briquettes were subjected to tests for dimensional stability, apparent and energy density, friability, index of combustion and watter boiling test. The results obtained for non-carbonized waste and briquettes were 648.08 kg/m 3 for bulk density, 12.92% for TCF, 12.83% for PCS, 0.05% for expansion, 12,835.20 MJ/m 3 for energy density, 0.75% for friability, 0.4629 for ICOM and 700oC maximum tempera- ture. For carbonized waste and briquettes the results were 559.56 kg/m 3 for bulk densi- ty, 19.64% for TCF, 14.17% for PCS, 0.2% for expansion, 12,408.40 MJ/m 3 for energy density, 3.18% for friability, 0.4756 for ICOM and 811oC maximum temperature reached. These values indicate that the best results were obtained for charred residues and briquettes.