Abstract:
The main purpose of this research was to utilize industrial wastewater sludge for producing briquettes. The sources of wastewater sludge were from pulp and dye factories. Young coconut shell was used to mix with wastewater sludge in order to increase the heating value of sludge. The experiments started with pre-treatment of sludge by using aerobic and anaerobic processes. The optimal mixing ratios between sludge and young coconut shell were also studied. The improvement of the quality of briquettes by burning them into charcoals was conducted at the final stage. The results obtained reveals that the optimal mixing ratios between sludge and young coconut shell were at 1:1, 1:2 and 1:3 by volume. The pre-treatment of pulp and dye sludges by both aerobic and anaerobic processes significantly reduced the level of smell. The highest heating values of both pulp and dye sludges were found at the mixing ratio 1:3 (sludge: young coconut shell) at 3,398 and 2,851 cal/g, respectively. In addition, the improvement of the quality of briquettes produced by burning them into charcoals had proved the significant increase of heating values and decrease of smell. The heating values of burned briquettes of pulp and dye sludges at the same mixing ratios of 1:3 were increased to 4,736 and 3,729 cal/g, respectively. When comparing the results in term of testing the efficiency of use as fuel with charcoal, indicates that both burned briquettes and charcoal were similar. However, the burned briquettes were easier to be ignited.