Agricultural Waste as Raw Material for Briquetting

The popularity of briquettes and other alternative energy sources is constantly growing. Among them, straw briquettes hold a prominent place. The vast agricultural areas used for cultivating cereals and other crops provide an almost inexhaustible source of free raw material for enterprising farmers and businesspeople ready to embrace the production of this type of fuel. Just imagine: 1 ton of harvested wheat generates 2 tons of plant waste, which can be turned into excellent, eco-friendly fuel!

Comparative Characteristics of Straw Briquettes
In terms of density, straw briquettes are quite comparable to wood briquettes. Their main drawback lies in ash content. For straw, this figure is around 5–7%, whereas for wood it ranges from 0.3 to 1.1%. However, this disadvantage can actually be turned into a benefit, as ash can be used as a fertilizer. Thus, it is fair to say that straw fuel briquettes are among the best types of solid biofuels.

Production of Straw Briquettes
In general, the briquetting process follows the same sequence as wood briquette production. First, the raw material is crushed, then dried to the required moisture level, and finally pressed under high temperature and pressure to form a convenient, usable shape. No adhesives are used in this process — the particles are bonded naturally by lignin, which is released by the plants themselves during processing.

The main difference in the production of straw briquettes is the need for additional crushing due to the relatively long stems compared to wood chips. However, modern briquetting equipment manufacturers have addressed this issue by developing specialized shredders and crushers.

To ensure that the process of converting straw into fuel briquettes is as efficient, safe, and profitable as possible, it is essential to invest in high-quality professional equipment designed by true experts who understand the intricacies of the technology.

C.F. Nielsen equipment is particularly well-suited for briquetting agricultural waste, and the specialized spare parts are specifically designed to reduce wear and tear.