Table 1 Physical characteristics of the test samples

 Moisture content (%wt)

6.4

4.5

8.3

 Volatile matter (%wt)

75.4

9.2

4.6

 Fixed carbon (%wt)

15.7

80.4

79.5

 Ash content (%wt)

2.5

5.9

7.7

 By bomb calorimeter (B)

17.7

32.8

31.9

 By calculation using Dulong’s formula (C)

16.5

30.9

29.4

 % Difference = \( \frac{\left(B-C\right)}{B}\times 100 \)

6.6

6.1

7.6

 Thermal efficiency (%)

17

31

26

 Fuel consumption rate (kg h⁻¹)

0.79

0.29

0.31

 BET surface area (m² g⁻¹)

ND^a

62

12

 Weight percentage (% based on original DBC)

100

27

25

 Burn-off weight percentage (% based on original DBC)

–

73

75