CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF BRIQUETTES FROM FOREST WOODY BIOMASS IN KURDISTAN REGION OF IRAQ

The chemical characteristics of briquettes made in Duhok Province from various forest-woody sources of biomass are examined in this study. Briquetting is a practical technique for turning forest leftovers into effective biofuels, and energy produced from biomass is a sustainable substitute for fossil fuels. The study looks at how briquette quality is affected by species kind, moisture content, size of particles, and pyrolysis temperature. Under various conditions (ranges of moisture content of 6%, 9%, and 12%; sizes of particles of 2 mm and 4 mm; and temperatures of pyrolysis of 330°C and 350°C), two species—Quercus infectoria and Pinus brutia—were examined. This study evaluated key characteristics such as moisture content percentage, volatile matter percentage, ash content percentage, fixed carbon percentage, and calorific value MJ/kg. The results show that the briquettes of Quercus infectoria with particle size of 2 mm, moisture content of 6%, and pyrolysis temperature of 350°C had higher fixed carbon, higher calorific value, and lower moisture and ash content, making them an excellent fuel source. On the other hand, Pinus brutia briquettes used less energy because they retained more moisture and volatile materials. The results emphasize how crucial it is to optimize biomass selection as well as processing parameters to improve fuel efficiency and sustainability. This study advances the utilization of biomass techniques for the generation of renewable energy.