Energy Recovery from Ulva sp. Algal Biomass in the Form of Fuel Briquettes: The Influence of the Binder on Energy and Mechanical Performance
Abstract
The use of algae for energy production in the form of fuel briquettes represents a promising approach to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting the energy transition. These briquettes offer a sustainable and renewable alternative to global dependence on fossil fuels. This study aims to characterise and produce fuel briquettes made from macroalgae of the genus Ulva sp., collected from the jetty at SENELEC’s C3 power station in Dakar (Senegal), with a view to using them as an alternative fuel to charcoal and butane gas for domestic cooking. The production method involves mixing a constant mass of dried seaweed powder with varying proportions of a mineral binder ranging from 20 % to 50 %, derived from fluosilicic acid, a by-product of the Senegalese chemical industry. Four briquette formulations were thus produced: BAL20, BAL30, BAL40 and BAL50. Physico-chemical analyses (moisture content, ash content, volatile matter and total organic carbon) and combustion tests (lower calorific value, burning time) were carried out to assess their energy performance. The results showed that the BAL20 formulation performed best, with a lower calorific value of 1,778 kcal/kg and a burn time of 85 minutes, outperforming the other formulations studied. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicates that ash content (ASH) has a highly significant effect on the lower calorific value (p = 0.0307 < 5 %). These results suggest that seaweed briquettes produced using industrial waste as a binder represent a viable and environmentally friendly energy alternative that can contribute both to the management of coastal seaweed biomass and to the energy transition in Senegal.
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