Carbonized Briquettes from Chicken Litter as an Alternative Source of Fuel

Abstract

Yai Nyok Deng, Simon Peter Wafula, Andrew Buyondo Kasumba, Solomon Mutebi, Esther Awori, James Kateu ,Obed Kamulegeya and Naqiyyah Kimuli Nakimul

Most families in Uganda are low income earners. The world bank classifies Uganda as a low income country. In 2022, the GNI per capita for Uganda was $840, which is below the world bank’s threshold of $1,036 for lower-middle- income countries. The poverty headcount ratio in Uganda was 20.3% in 2019. this means that 20.3% of Ugandans lived below the national poverty line of $1.90 per day.

Billions of people especially in developing countries depend on biomass as a source of energy especially in cooking, heating, and basic energy needs. In Sub-Saharan Africa, 77.8% of the population depends on biomass for cooking. This means that more than 3 out of every 4 Africans cook with wood, charcoal.

This study aimed at producing carbonized briquettes from chicken litter as an alternative source of fuel. The study involved collection of chicken litter from the local community, drying it under the sun for 4 days at 25 °C and then performing the various tests, carbonizing the litter at 350 °C for 45 minutes, briquetting was done and the product measured 0.09 m in height and 0.03604 m in diameter. Then the drying process was done so that the briquette was 9.2% moisture content.

Various tests like thermal, physical and mechanical were performed on the obtained briquette.

It is recommended that farmers informed on the handling and storing of chicken. A more lengthy drying for about 8 days at 25 °C and bagasse mixture with the litter can boost the calorific value of the briquette.

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