Briquetting of Istanbul-Kemerburgaz lignite of Turkey

A lignite sample from the Kemerburgaz-Istanbul area was briquetted with or without binder material. Molasses and Sirnak (Turkey) asphaltite were used as binder materials at different ratios. The effects of the moisture content of the lignite and the concentration of the binder on briquette strength were examined at two different briquetting pressures, 150 and 200 MPa. Briquetting of lignite samples without binder material gave products with low strength and low water resistance. The maximum briquette strength was achieved with a lignite moisture content of 13% and an asphaltite concentration of 12% at a briquetting pressure of 200 MPa, The strongest briquettes obtained with lignite-molasses blends were achieved with a molasses concentration of 12% and a lignite moisture content of 8% at a briquetting pressure of 200 MPa.