In view of the multiple issues associated with fossil fuels, an environmentally friendly and economically feasible alternative energy source is required. While sufficient research has been conducted on diesel and single biodiesel blends, only a few studies on dual blended biodiesel have been conducted in this respect. The significance of blending waste cooking oil and rubber seed oil mixed with diesel at different proportions is investigated in the present research. At different braking power levels, the impacts of dual biodiesel (DB) performance and exhaust fumes on the stationary single-cylinder four-stroke air-cooled diesel engine with electrical loads were evaluated. The engine speed was held constant at 2800 rpm all through the testing. Each load was tested three times. Blend A had relatively better thermal and mechanical efficiency than diesel, based on experimental investigation results. Blends B and C were almost identical to the diesel values. Specific fuel consumption statistics for dual biodiesel blends were similar to diesel. The influence of different mixes on CO, CO2, HC, NOx, and smoke opacity were studied using emission tests. In contrast to diesel, the dual biodiesel blends produced more fumes, hydrocarbons, and nitrogen oxides. Dual biodiesel blends, on the other hand, have lesser emissions temperatures than diesel.

Efficient utilization of biomass requires conversion into forms that can be optimally applied in energy generation. Briquetting involves the compaction of biomass into solid blocks that are more efficient than raw biomass, and provides ease of transport and handling. These are improved when the briquettes possess a high density, shatter index, and compressive strength. Due to differences in nature and composition, it is imperative to define optimum conditions for the production of quality and durable briquettes for individual biomasses that are compacted into briquettes. This study investigated the effects of process variables on the strength, durability, and density of biomass briquettes produced using Abura sawdust. The lateral compressive strength and drop shatter index were investigated whilst varying the temperature (100–150 °C), pressure (9–15 MPa), and hold time (15–30 min). The compressive strength ranged between 2.06 and 5.15 MPa, whilst the shatter index was between 50 and 600. Briquette density was between 518.8 and 822.9 kg/m³. The pressure was significant to the determination of the compressive strength (p < 0.1) and the shatter index (p < 0.05). The pressure, temperature, and hold time are significant to the briquette density. Physical and mechanical characteristics of the binderless Abura sawdust briquettes can be improved by optimizing the densification variables during the briquetting process when moderate pressures are used for compaction.

The main barrier in the use of natural fiber (NF) as a reinforcing material in thermoplastic composites meant for outdoor applications is NF’s hydrophilicity. Thus, heat treatment of vacuum-dried mangrove was conducted at 120°C in order to reduce the hydrophilic nature of mangrove. The untreated and heat-treated mangrove particles were compounded with high-density polyethylene (HDPE) at 10, 20, and 30 wt% in a twin-screw extruder and injection molded into dog-bone-shaped test pieces for tensile tests and thermal analysis (thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)). Test pieces were immersed in distilled water for 1440 h at ambient temperature (approximately 27°C) and a relative humidity of 60–65%. The results revealed that the earliest and latest water saturation were observed at 480 and 792 h for 10 wt% treated and 30 wt% untreated composites, respectively. The dry composites maintained higher tensile strength and modulus but lower tensile strain than the water-saturated composites irrespective of treatment. Scanning electron microscopy of tensile fractured surfaces confirmed an improved mangrove-HDPE interfacial interaction of treated composites in both dry and water-saturated conditions. The TGA and DSC data showed that the maximum degradation temperature of dry composites is higher than the wet composites. Overall, the treated composites at dry and water-saturated conditions indicated better tensile and thermal stability than the untreated mangrove-filled HDPE composites; these are possible indications of better performance during outdoor applications.

Efficient utilization of biomass requires conversion into forms that can be optimally applied in energy generation. Briquetting involves compaction of biomass into solid blocks that are more efficient than raw biomass and provides for ease of transport and handling. These are improved when the briquettes possess high shatter index and compressive strength. Due to difference in nature and composition, it is imperative to define optimum conditions for the production of quality and durable briquettes for individual biomass compacted into briquettes. This study studied the effects of process variables on the strength and durability of biomass briquettes produced using Abura sawdust. The lateral compressive strength and drop shatter index were investigated whilst varying the temperature (100-150 °C), pressure (9-15 MPa) and hold time (15-30 min). The compressive strength ranged between 2.06 and 5.15 MPa whilst the shatter index was between 50 and 600. The pressure was significant to the determination of the compressive strength (p < 0.1) and the shatter index (p < 0.05). Mechanical characteristics of the binderless Abura sawdust briquettes can be improved by optimizing the densification variables during the briquetting process when moderate pressures are used for compaction.