Characterization of Sludge, Water Hyacinth, and Bagasse as Potential Feedstocks for Briquette Fuel

The growing demand for sustainable energy has driven interest in biomass and waste-derived fuels as alternatives to fossil fuels. This study evaluates water hyacinth, bagasse, and wastewater sludge as potential feedstocks for briquette fuel production through analysis of their combustion characteristics. The materials were collected, dried, and size-reduced to achieve uniform particle distribution. Proximate analysis was conducted to determine moisture content, ash content, and volatile matter using standard ASTM methods, while calorific values were measured using a bomb calorimeter. Elemental composition (C, H, N, S, and O) was also analyzed to assess fuel quality. Drying significantly enhanced the fuel properties of all samples, reducing moisture content to approximately 9–10%. This resulted in marked increases in calorific values to 19 MJ/kg for water hyacinth, 18.2 MJ/kg for bagasse, and 16.2 MJ/kg for sludge. Volatile matter increased substantially, indicating improved combustibility, while ash content varied, with bagasse exhibiting the lowest values. Overall, dry samples demonstrated superior energy performance compared to wet materials. The results confirm that these biomass resources are viable alternative energy sources when properly processed, offering a sustainable solution for waste management and renewable energy production. Overall, the findings demonstrate that these biomass resources are viable alternative fuels when properly processed, with bagasse showing superior combustion efficiency due to lower ash content, while water hyacinth and sludge also exhibit strong potential for sustainable energy production and waste management.