briquetagem

Briquetagem, or briquetting, is the process of converting loose, fine, or low-density materials into compact, uniform briquettes. It is used to turn biomass residues, charcoal fines, coal dust, and other powders into a more energy-dense, easier-to-handle solid fuel.

The process generally includes drying the material to a low moisture content, size reduction if needed, and sometimes the addition of binders. Briquetting is performed using mechanical presses, such as piston, screw, or roll presses, which apply high pressure to densify the material into briquettes. After pressing, the briquettes are cooled and dried to stabilize their shape and strength. Natural binders (for example, lignin released from wood during heating) or added binders (starch, molasses, tar) may be used to improve cohesion.

Materials commonly briquetted include wood residues (sawdust, shavings), agricultural residues (rice husks, bagasse, straw), other biomass fines, charcoal fines, and occasionally coal dust. Briquettes are produced in various shapes and sizes to suit different furnaces and stoves.

Applications range from household cooking and heating in rural areas to fuel for industrial boilers and kilns, and sometimes metallurgical processes. The main advantages of briquetting are higher energy density, improved handling and transport, reduced waste disposal, and potential reductions in smoke and emissions when produced and burned properly. Challenges include high capital costs for machinery, the need to control moisture and binding quality, and ensuring consistent combustion and emissions.

Standards and certification schemes for briquettes exist in several countries to regulate calorific value, moisture, ash content, and physical dimensions, helping ensure product quality and safety.