Valorization of African oil bean seed husk to develop solid biofuel for green sustainability and circular bioeconomy
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20266435Keywords:
Biomass, African oil bean seed husk, Sawdust, Cassava starch, Briquette, Calorific valueAbstract
Fossil fuel, which dominates the world’s energy supply, faces serious environmental and sustainability challenges. This study investigated the production and evaluation of bio-briquettes from African oil bean seed husk (AOBSH) and sawdust (SD), bound with cassava starch, to offer a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative to fossil fuel. A multi-level factorial experimental design was employed, involving five biomass (AOBSH and SD) blend ratios and three binder quantities (30 g, 50 g, and 80 g). The physical and energy-related properties of both uncharred and carbonized briquettes, including moisture content, ash content, volatile matter, fixed carbon, and calorific value were studied. For uncharred briquettes, fixed carbon ranged from 0.24% to 15.83%, volatile matter from 19.05% to 45.74%, ash content from 5.4% to 36.23%, and moisture content from 33.5% to 51%. Carbonized briquettes exhibited improved characteristics, with fixed carbon reaching up to 53.65% with significantly reduced volatile matter. Results also indicated that biomass composition significantly influenced fixed carbon, volatile matter, and moisture content, while binder quantity had a lesser effect. Interaction plots confirmed that optimal briquette quality was driven more by biomass composition than binder quantity. The best briquette was obtained from carbonized AOBSH at 100 % composition with 80 g of cassava starch binder, and this briquette gave a fixed carbon content of 53.65 % and a calorific value of 54.00 kJ/kg. The study concludes that briquettes made from AOBSH and SD using cassava starch binder has great potential for clean energy generation and agricultural waste valorization. This innovation promotes sustainable energy goals and rural energy diversification strategies.
Downloads
References
Abineno J.C., Dethan J.J., Bunga F.J.H. and Bunga E.Z.H. (2025). Characterization and performance analysis of Kesambi branch biomass briquettes: A study on particle size effects. Journal of Ecological Engineering, 26(1). http://dx.doi.org/10.12911/22998993/195643
Adetogun A.C., Ogunjobi K.M. and Areghan S.E. (2014). Combustion properties of briquettes produced from maize cob of different particle sizes. Journal of Research in Forestry, Wildlife and Environment, 6(1)28–38.
Alinnor, I. J. and Oze, R. (2011). Chemical evaluation of the nutritive value of Pentaclethra macrophylla Benth (African oil bean) seeds. Pakistan Journal of Nutrition, 10(4), 355–359. https://doi.org/10.3923/pjn.2011.355.359
Asoegwu, S. N., Ohanyere, S. O., Kanu, O. P. and Iwueke, C. N. (2006). Physical properties of African oil bean seed (Pentaclethra macrophylla). CIGR E-Journal, 8, Manuscript FP 05 006.
Bot B.V., Axaopoulos P.J. Sakellariou E.I. Sosso O.T. and Tamba J.G. (2022). Energetic and economic analysis of biomass briquettes production from agricultural residues. Applied Energy, 321, 119430. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2022.119430
Bot B.V., Sosso O.T., Tamba J.G. Lekane E., Bikai, J. and Ndame M.K. (2023). Preparation and characterization of biomass briquettes made from banana peels, sugarcane bagasse, coconut shells and rattan waste. Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery, 13(9)7937-7946. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-021-01762-w
Bot B.V., Tamba J.G. and Sosso O.T. (2024). Assessment of biomass briquette energy potential from agricultural residues in Cameroon. Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery, 14(2)905-1917. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-022-02388-2
Ejiofor, M. A. N., Oti, E. and Okafor, J. C. (1987). Studies on the fermentation of seeds of the African oil bean tree (Pentaclethra macrophylla). International Tree Crops Journal, 4(2–3), 135–144. https://doi.org/10.1080/01435698.1987.9752818
Enujiugha, V. N. (2003). Nutrient changes during the fermentation of African oil bean (Pentaclethra macrophylla Benth) seeds. Pakistan Journal of Nutrition, 2(5), 320–323.
Environmental and Energy Study Institute. (2023). Fossil fuels. https://www.eesi.org/topics/fossil-fuels/description.
Ezéchiel K., Joel T.K., Abdon A. and Roger D.D. (2022). Accessibility and effects of binder types on the physical and energetic properties of ecological coal. Heliyon, 8(11)e11410.
Ezenwa O.N., Mgbemena C.O. and Emagbetere E. (2024). Utilization of solid residue from hydrothermal liquefaction of breadfruit pulp for the production of bio-briquette using cassava starch as binder. Heliyon, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e24081
Ganesan S. and Vedagiri P. (2022). Production of sustainable biomass briquettes from de-oiled cashewnut Shell. Materials Today: Proceedings, 68:2484-2492. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2022.09.179
Igbozulike A.O., Ndirika V.I.O. and Simonyan, K.J. (2021). Postharvest processing, packaging and storage of African oil bean seed. Poljoprivredna Tehnika, 46(1)31- 46.
Igbozulike, A. O., Ndirika, V. I. O. and Simonyan, K. J. (2023). Evaluation of energy consumption in drying African oil bean seeds using response surface methodology. Arab Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences, 30(1), 137-145. https://doi.org/10.1080/25765299.2023.2191955
Ikhuoria, E. U., Aiwonegbe, A. E. and Okoli, P. (2008). Characteristics and composition of African oil bean seed (Pentaclethra macrophylla Benth). Journal of Applied Sciences, 8(7), 1337–1339
Lee K.T., Chen W.H., Sarles P., Park Y.K. and Ok Y.S. (2022). Recover energy and materials from agricultural waste via thermochemical conversion. One Earth, 5(11)1200-1204. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2022.10.010
Madukasi E.I., Oso K. and Igwe C.C. (2016). Waste-to-energy resources: African oil bean seed husk combustion. Am Assoc Sci Technol J Energy, 3(1)1-5.
Nagarajan J. and Prakash L. (2021). Preparation and characterization of biomass briquettes using sugarcane bagasse, corncob and rice husk. Materials Today: Proceedings, 47:4194-4198. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2021.04.457
Njoku, H. O. and Okemadu, C. P. (1989). Biochemical changes during the natural fermentation of the African oil bean for the production of ugba. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 49, 457–465. https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.2740490408
NguyenStarch. (2023). A comprehensive guide to briquettes. https://nguyenstarch.com/a-comprehensive-guide-to-briquettes/.
Nwokeleme, C. O. and Ugwuanyi, J. O. (2015). Evolution of volatile flavour compounds during fermentation of African oil bean (Pentaclethra macrophylla Benth) seeds for “Ugba” production. International Journal of Food Science, 1 (8). https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/706328
Obianom, A. O., Odibo, F. J. C. and Iheukwumere, I. H. (2024). Nutritive and phytate contents of raw and fermented African oil bean seeds. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Applied Science (IJRIAS). 9(5), 410-420. https://doi.org/10.51584/IJRIAS.2024.905036
Ohiri, R. C. and Bassey, E. E. (2017). Fermentation induced changes in volatile components of African oil bean (Pentaclethra macrophylla Benth) seeds. Food Science & Nutrition, 5(4), 948–955. https://doi.org/10.1002/fsn3.481
Ojunjobi, K. M., Michael, C., Ogunfowodu, A. T. and Adetogun, A. C. (2022). Burning characteristics of briquette produced from sawdust of Ficus exasperata and cassava peel using different binders. Nigerian Journal of Technology, 41(6). https://doi.org/10.4314/njt.v41i6.15
Olubusoye, O. E., Nwobi, D. L. and Oyebade, J. B. (2026). Determinants of household access to electricity in Nigeria. Discover Energy, 6(33). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43937-026-00139-2
Okafor, J. C., Okolonkwo, U. C. and Ejiofor, M. A. N. (1991). Evaluation of oils from fermented and unfermented seeds of the African oil bean tree Pentaclethra macrophylla. International Tree Crops Journal, 7(1–2), 95–101. https://doi.org/10.1080/01435698.1991.9752906
Okorie, P. C., Olasupo, N. A., Anike, F. N., Elemo, G. N. and Isikhuemhen, O. S. (2017). Incidence of enteric pathogens in ugba, a traditional fermented food from African oil bean seeds (Pentaclethra macrophylla). Food Safety, 4(1), 12 https://doi.org/10.1186/s40550-017-0057-7
Oni, K., Adeleke, A. E., Ogundana, T. O. and Satimehin, A. A. (2020). Fuel characterization of agro-wastes and briquettes produced from rice husk, groundnut shell and corncob blends. FUOYE Journal of Engineering and Technology. https://doi.org/10.46792/fuoyejet.v5i1.415
Oseni, M. O. (2012). Households’ access to electricity and energy consumption pattern in Nigeria. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 16(1), 990-995. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2011.09.021
Patel M.R. and Panwar N.L. (2023). Biochar from agricultural crop residues: Environmental, production, and life cycle assessment overview. Resources, Conservation & Recycling Advances, 19, 200173. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rcradv.2023.200173
Pelz, S., Chinichian, N., Neyrand, C. and Blechinger, P. (2023). Electricity supply quality and use among rural and peri-urban households and small firms in Nigeria. Scientific Data, 10(1), 273. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-023-02185-0
Sabo M.N., Aji M.M., Yaumi A.L. and Mustafa B.G. (2022). Preparation and characterization of biomass briquettes produced from coconut shell and corncobs. Arid Zone Journal of Basic & Applied Research, 1(1)47-54.
Senila L., Tenu I., Carlescu P., Scurtu D.A., Kovacs E., Senila M., Cadar O., Roman M., Dumitras D.E., Roman C. (2022). Characterization of biobriquettes produced from vineyard wastes as a solid biofuel resource. Agriculture, 12(3):341.
Song X., Zhang S., Wu Y. and Cao Z. (2020). Investigation on the properties of the bio-briquette fuel prepared from hydrothermal pretreated cotton stalk and wood sawdust. Renewable Energy, 151:184-191. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2019.11.003
Waheed M.A., Akogun O.A. and Enweremadu C.C. (2023). Dataset on the performance characteristics of briquettes from selected agricultural wastes using a piston-type briquetting machine. Data in Brief, 50, 109476. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dib.2023.109476
Sunardi S., Djuanda D. & Mandra M.A.S. (2019). Characteristics of charcoal briquettes from agricultural waste with compaction pressure and particle size variation as alternative fuel. International Energy Journal, 19(3)139-148.
Sunnu A.K. Adu-Poku K.A. and Ayetor G.K. (2021). Production and characterization of charred briquettes from various agricultural waste. Combustion Science and Technology, 195(5)1000-1021. https://doi.org/10.1080/00102202.2021.1977803
Udoma, A. W. and Ndirika, V. I. O. (2020). Production and Evaluation of fuel Characteristics for Briquettes from Different Crop Residues. Journal of Science and Sustainable Technology (JSST), 4(1), 119-136.
Ugwu, E. I., Aneke, N. N., Okoro, A. and Ekemezie-Okoye, T. (2026). Optimization of binder concentration and particle size for elephant grass and sawdust briquettes. Nigerian Journal of Technological Development. https://doi.org/10.63746/njtd.v23i1.4038
Velusamy S., Subbaiyan A., Murugesan S.R., Shanmugamoorthy M., Sivakumar V., Velusamy P., ... and Periyasamy S. (2022). Comparative analysis of agro waste material solid biomass briquette for environmental sustainability. Advances in Materials Science and Engineering, (1), 3906256. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/3906256
Wang Z., Huang W., Wang H., Gao J., Zhang R., Xu G. and Wang Z. (2024). Research on the improvement of carbon neutrality by utilizing agricultural waste: Based on a life cycle assessment of biomass briquette fuel heating system. Journal of Cleaner Production, 434, 140365. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.140365
Wulandari A.P., Rossiana N., Zahdi F.R.M., Nuraulia, R., Nur’anifah, R., Kartika, C. I., Rahmah L.A., Kusmoro J., Madihah, & Yusnaidar. (2024). Formulation and Characterization of Bio-Briquettes and Bio-Pellets from Ramie (Boehmeria nivea) Biomass as Renewable Fuel. Sustainability, 16(24)10930. https://doi.org/10.3390/su162410930
Yirijor J. and Bere A.A.T. (2024). Production and characterization of coconut shell charcoal-based bio-briquettes as an alternative energy source for rural communities. Heliyon, 10(16). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e35717
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 International Journal of Renewable Energy and Environment
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Accepted paper becomes the permanent property of the International Journal of Renewable Energy and Environment (IJREE) and may not be reproduced by any means without the written permission of the Editorial board.
