Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

Hi,Good day
My daughter has done a project in which she made biomass briquettes using dried banana peels and added binders(yam and cassava )The briquette made using only banana peels without any binders burned the best but crumbled easily.She tested them by heating water, checking water temperature and how long the briquettes burnt for .She wants to extend this project but does have any ideas how to extend this project.She wanted to test the briquettes in a laboratory for carbon emission but no laboratories in our town(Richards Bay,South Africa) could help .Any ideas will be very much appreciated.
Thank you

Hi Amyv,

Sounds like an interesting project! One way to extend this work would be to compare heat produced by the banana peel briquettes with other materials.

There is a Science Buddies project at the following link that compares heat produced by nonrenewable and renewable fuels:

https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... ls#summary

And another that compares heat output from different typed of food:

https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... alorimeter

Perhaps one or both of these projects will fit with your daughter's interests.

I hope this helps. Please ask again if you have more questions.

A. Norman

Thank you very for the reply and help.It is very much appreciated.

Hi,Good day
We have read about a process called torrefaction which will make a better burning biomass briquettes.
Can yourl please help in explaining torrefaction in simple terms and can it be done in a normal kitchen oven for a science project or does it has to be done in a laboratory and needs special equipment.
Thank you