Characterization and Optimization of Fuel Nugget from Waste Materials

Abstract: The increasing global demand for energy, coupled with inefficient waste management practices, presents significant environmental and sustainability challenges, particularly in developing countries. This study addresses these issues by investigating the production, characterization, and optimization of fuel nuggets derived from agricultural waste materials specifically, palm kernel shells (PKS), corn cobs (CC), and plastic straws (PS

The methodology involved using a face-centered central composite design (FCCCD) to optimize the blending ratios of PKS, CC, and PS. Fuel nuggets were fabricated through a process of grinding, mixing, and compressing the biomass materials at high pressure and temperature. The experimental data were analyzed using Design-Expert software to develop quadratic models, with statistical validation performed through Analysis of Variance (ANOVA).

The results demonstrated that higher proportions of PKS significantly enhanced the calorific value (up to 24.12 MJ/kg), reduced ash content (as low as 0.90%), and increased bulk density (1.63 g/cm³). CC contributed to lowering moisture content (as low as 2.87%) and increasing volatile matter, which improved ignition properties. The optimal blend achieved a combustion efficiency of up to 93.88%. The models showed high reliability, with adjusted R² values above 0.98 across all response variables.

In conclusion, the study confirms that fuel nuggets produced from agricultural waste are a viable, sustainable alternative to traditional fossil fuels. These nuggets offer high energy output, low emissions, and significant environmental benefits by reducing agricultural waste and deforestation. It is recommended that future research explore additional biomass materials and assess the commercial scalability of this technology to promote broader adoption in energy-deficient regions

Cite this paper as: Egbo Benedict; Momoh, KO; (2025). Characterization and Optimization of Fuel Nugget from Waste Materials