CONVERSION OF WASTE PLASTIC INTO SOLID BRIQUETTE IN COMBINATION WITH BIOMASS: BANGLADESH PERSPECTIVE

Abstract: Every year millions of tons of agricultural wastes are generated in the country. The percentage of Plastic waste is also increasing in the Municipal Solid Waste management system. These Biomasses or Agricultural wastes can be used as energy source directly. The problem is the energy efficiency and environmental pollution. Meanwhile waste plastics are recycled and a major portion of it goes to land filling. As plastics possess high fuel value, these can be combined with biomasses to prepare solid briquette. This current study looks to develop a good composition of Briquette which comprises of conventional Biomasses and Plastic waste. The total work is carried out in three segments; (i) Preparing a Lab grade Thermal Piston Press for Plastic-Biomass Briquette Manufacturing, (ii) Sample preparation with various proportion of Biomass and Waste Plastic, and (iii) Characterization of the prepared sample. From the study it is seen that the fuel value of Biomass Briquette increases with mixing of plastics, which minimizes water absorption and friability, increases storage capacity and strength. The characterization of Plastic-Biomass Briquette shows that with the addition of 10% waste plastic the calorific increases 40% by margin and doubles the compressive strength.

Keywords: Plastic Waste, Plastic-Biomass Briquette, Thermal Piston Press, Compressive strength.