Abstract
Studies have demonstrated that waste paper and wheat straw or their mixtures can be compressed to a relative density greater than unity, and stabilized at that density without binder material. A reduction in the volume of the material also provides a technological benefit, so the material could be transported and stored more economically than is possible at present. The effects of the briquetting pressure on the density, moisture content, and bending and compressive strengths of the briquettes were determined at six different pressures of 300, 400, 500, 600, 700 and 800 MPa. The optimum moisture contents and compressive strengths were found to be respectively 18.0% and 38.2 MPa for waste paper, 22.0% and 22.4 MPa for wheat straw, and 18.0% and 32.0 MPa for a 20.0% by weight of waste paper and straw mixture. The effect of the temperature and time on the briquette density of wheat straw was examined.