Pulverised Oil Palm Wood (Elaeis Guineensis) in Clay Body and Energy Generation in Ceramic Firing

Abstract

The use of liquefied gas in firing ceramics is very clean, energy efficient, fast and desirable but costly.  Alternative energy is sought for. “Pulverized Oil Palm Wood (POPW) in Clay Body and Energy Generation in Ceramic Firing”, was used to determine and utilize wood (oil palm) for firing. This was added to clay body for improving the technique of firing, and reducing the dependency on liquefied gas.  The main objective of the study was to determine the effects of POPW in Clay Body and Energy Generation. To guide the study a research question and an hypothesis were developed.  The area of coverage was Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria . The method used was Experimental Design. An adopted clay body, and the POPW were analysed before usage. The POPW was added to the clay body (10 – 50%) to test its effects on the dependent variables. The temperatures were collected as data from the experiment. They were analyzed using independent t-test. The findings revealed with gas alone, and POPW augmented with gas, created differences in the energy generated.  In conclusion, the research findings revealed alternative energy in ceramic firing encouraging better ceramic production with economic output.

Keywords: Pulverized Oil Palm wood, Energy Generation, wood in clay, Augmentation.