High-Performance Pineapple Leaf Briquettes Using Cassava Starch and Okra Mucilage Binders: Combustion, Fuel Quality, and Mechanical Characterization

Due to the dual crisis of energy poverty and waste management, there is a need to harness biomass-solid-based energy from agricultural waste to improve energy access and enhance waste management, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa. This study investigated the feasibility of producing briquettes from pineapple leaves using starch and okra mucilage binders. Proximate analysis, burning test, elemental analysis, and mechanical test were done. The binder concentrations used were 5%, 15%, 25%, and 35%. Results revealed that 25% okra binder briquettes performed better, with 76.58% volatile matter, 29.13 MJ/kg heating value, 3.57% moisture content, 41.30% carbon, 5.27% hydrogen, and 39.53% oxygen, of which all met the recommended standard. The heating value for the remaining concentrations (26.09–28.84 MJ/kg) all met the international standard. Also, the mechanical tests—density (581.63-750.14 kg/m³), shatter resistance (96.01%-99.96%), tumbling resistance (92.07% to 99.62%), compressive strength (7251.6-8886.2 KN/m²), and water resistance (exceeding 1080 minutes)—for all the binder concentrations were within the recommended international standard of briquettes. This ensures mechanical stability during handling and transportation. The findings revealed that pineapple leaves have significant potential as an alternative biomass source for briquette production capable of mitigating energy poverty in low-income countries.