Suitability of invasive species for briquette production: Lantana camara and Prosopis juliflora

Abstract

Study on production of briquettes from two invasive forest weeds, i.e., Lantana camara and Prosopis juliflora was carried out. The experiments were carried out using a 70 mm industrial briquetting unit. The optimum moisture content for briquetting was found around 10–12%. Lantana camara and Prosopis juliflora biomass briquettes were found to have high density (1.1 g cm-3). In this study, fuel properties (proximate and ultimate analysis), combustion characteristics and ash elemental composition of Lantana camara and Prosopis juliflora biomass were investigated. Both the species are found to have less ash content. The emphasis was given to these species because of the huge biomass they produce. These species are widely present in different agro-climatic zones of India and can play a major role in future bioenergy schemes.