Prof. Tebogo Mashifana

University of South Africa
South Africa

Abstract Title: Enhancing Coal Fines through Innovative Sustainable Green Binders for Eco-Friendly Briquettes

Biography:

Tebogo Mashifana is an educator and researcher specializing in circular economy, with over a decade in academia. Holding a DPhil in engineering, she has significantly contributed to sustainable resource management. Her expertise includes waste reduction strategies, the green economy, and resource efficiency across various sectors. An accomplished author, Mashifana, has published numerous journal articles, offering insights into environmental engineering and circular economy principles. Her commitment to advancing sustainable development practices through research continues to inspire positive change and promote a more sustainable future.

Research Interest:

The coal industry is vital for its economy and energy production, but the generation of coal fines during processing poses environmental and health challenges. Coal briquetting offers a promising solution by converting coal fines into denser briquettes. This study investigates the use of cactus gel, an unconventional binder, to enhance the properties of coal fines briquettes and reduce emissions during combustion. Coal fines were mixed with cactus gel to improve compressibility and durability, with various solid-to-liquid mixing ratios tested. The mixture was shaped into briquettes using a 50x50x50 mm³ mold and cured for analysis of compressive strength. The results indicated that the briquettes failed to maintain structure, disintegrating into a liquid-like substance and achieving only 95% of the minimum Water Resistance Index (WRI). However, the 40:60 solid-to-liquid ratio produced briquettes with the highest calorific value of 26.57 MJ/kg and a compressive strength of 0.375 MPa, meeting the requirements for fuel briquettes and demonstrating superior water resistance compared to lower ratios. Cactus gel proved to be an effective natural binding agent, significantly enhancing the structural integrity and energy content of coal fines briquettes. The 40:60 ratio emerged as optimal for achieving both high calorific value and compressive strength. These findings suggest a pathway toward more sustainable coal processing methods.