Production of Briquettes from a Blend of HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) Plastic Wastes and Teak (Tectona grandis Linn. f) Sawdust Using Different Natural Adhesives as the Binder

• Published in: Key engineering materials 2021-04, Vol.882, p.273-279
• Main Authors: Ardian, Alvin, Khoiriyah, Via, Chafidz, Achmad, Faisal, R.M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adhesives; Ashes; Briquets; Calorific value; Charcoal; Cornflour; Dairy products; Flour; High density polyethylenes; Household wastes; Low level; Polyethylene; Sawdust
• ISSN: 1013-9826; 1662-9795; 1662-9795
• DOI: 10.4028/www.scientific.net/KEM.882.273

HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) is one type of plastics that has been used in many various applications. We frequently used it in our daily life, such as plastic bag, dairy products packaging, etc., which often end up being waste, which is non-biodegradable. This plastic waste has good potential to be used in production of briquettes because it has a high heating value. Teak sawdust is also considered waste and usually not properly utilized. Nevertheless, it has a high heating value and sufficiently low level of volatile matter. Therefore, mixing HDPE plastic waste with biomass charcoal such as teak sawdust to make briquettes as an alternative domestic fuel is an interesting idea. The objective of this research was to make briquettes by mixing HDPE plastic waste and teak sawdust. The effects of two different natural adhesives (i.e. rice flour and corn flour) and the ratio of plastic waste and teak sawdust were investigated. The results of the experiment show that the best ratio of plastic waste and teak sawdust that produce the best quality of briquettes in this study was 50% : 50% and by using rice flour adhesive. The following are the results for this sample, the duration of fire starts to ignite was about 2.3 minutes; the duration of fire boils 125 mL of water was 12.8 minutes; and the duration of the briquettes burn to ashes was about 62 minutes.