Abstract:
The purposes of this research were to study chemical properties of biomass and ratios of compressed biomass fuel sticks, and to compare efficiency of compressed biomass fuel sticks for pastry production. The experiment started with examining chemical properties of coconut shell biomass, corncob biomass and bamboo biomass and testing their fuel properties according to ASTM standard. The ratio of cassava starch to water as emulsifier for compressed biomass fuel sticks was determined at 1:1 and they were cold pressed into cylinders with 2.5 centimeters in diameter and 15 centimeters in length. Then their fuel properties according to ASTM standard were tested again. After that, the compressed biomass fuel sticks were tested for their efficiency in pastry production and data including baking time, temperatures and ash weight were recorded by engineering tools to compare the efficiency. The results reveal that the fuel properties of the 3 types of compressed biomass fuel sticks according to ASTM standard obtain fixed carbon approximately between 16.70-65.00%. The results also show the percentage of the moisture content, ash content and volatile matter at 6.70-11.50, 1.30-3.00, and 70.50-77.60 respectively. When comparing the efficiency of compressed biomass fuel sticks for pastry production, it was found that the best formula of fuel properties is 40% of coconut shell, 50% of corncob and 10% of bamboo per 840 grams of emulsifier. The pastry baking with this formula of compressed biomass fuel sticks takes the shortest time at 58 minutes and heats up to 159.40 °C with orange flames. The fuel consumption rate in baking is 1.84 kg., and the minimum of ash is 2.41%. Moreover, the pastrys color, taste, and shape from the production meet the local product standard. In addition, the comparison shows that the 3rd formula of compressed biomass fuel sticks agrees with the hypothesis and could be developed to be an option to decrease pollutants and agriculture wastes.