Proximate and Ultimate Composition of Parboiled Rice Husk from Local Rice Species and their Suitability for use in Bio-Briquette Production
Abstract
P.S Ogbuefi, P. Nwaokafor, I.J Njoku, E.D Nwadinobi
This study focused on evaluating the proximate and ultimate compositions of parboiled local rice husk species from Ikwo and Izzi rice clusters. The Izzi R8 and Ikwo CP rice husk species were sampled. Proximate analysis and ultimate analysis was carried out using thermo-gravimetric analyzer and elemental analyzer respectively. The Analysis shows that Izzi R8 and Ikwo CP have relatively high moisture content of 11.76% and 11.84% respectively. The ash content of the Izzi R8 and the Ikwo CP rice husk species were found to be 18.45% and 18.58% respectively. The Ikwo CP rice husk specie has higher composition of fixed carbon than that of Izzi R8. The results of the ultimate analysis show that the Izzi R8 and the Ikwo CP rice husk species have low carbon content of 13.85% and 13.87% respectively. Izzi R8 and Ikwo CP rice husks species show Nitrogen content of 1.18% and 1.20%. Izzi R8 and Ikwo Cp rice husk species show high content of Oxygen (67.48% and 68.34%) respectively and Sulphur (2.47% and 2.52%) respectively. These high contents of Oxygen, Nitrogen and Sulphur suggest the ease of the formation of NOx and SOx compounds during combustion. Due to Abakaliki Rice husk species (Izzi R8 and Ikwo CP) having high moisture content and low volatile matter content with moderate ash content, they may not compete well as energy source, that is, as a raw material for briquetting.
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