calorific values: See table 2 above - Construction Clay bricks KnO 100104_Utilization of bagasse in Brickmaking

Utilization of bagasse in brickmaking

Practical Action

 calorific values: See table 2 above

 1MT of clay = 432.9 bricks

 Weight of 1 green brick = 2.31 kg

 Weight of 1 bagasse block = 1.33 kg

 Size of 1 block of Bagasse = 30 x 14 x 8cm

 Weight of 1 bagasse block = 1.33 kg

In section A of the table, titled "Costs including Transport", cost per brick is higher in kiln 2 (LS

13.79) than in kiln 1 (LS 11.17), as is the cost per unit energy. This is due in part to the high

cost of transporting the bagasse blocks from Halfa.

In section B, costs are

computed disregarding cost of

transport of Bagasse (loose and

blocks) from Halfa. The Miskit

wood is available locally in

Kassala. Under this section it

can be clearly seen that costs

per brick, energy and MT of

clay are all less for kiln 2 than

kiln I. In Halfa and the nearby

places like Girba, or elsewhere

where bagasse blocks would be

produced locally they would

have a great advantage over

wood.

Table (5) also gives a detailed

breakdown of other cost

components of the two firings.

Figure 3: Pile of clay fired bricks with scotch kiln behind.

Photo: Mohammed Majzoub / Practical Action.

Recommendations

The use of well-matured loose bagasse in brick clays, where available, as an alternative to cow-

dung, is recommended. It produces bricks of good surface finish i.e. smooth and brilliant in

colour. Dung, in contrast, leaves voids when it burns out. It also produces greyish ashes on the

brick, rendering colour dull.

Bagasse blocks in the vicinity of production sites are a good alternative to wood.

They would have wider application if current production costs of LS 75 and transport costs were

reduced. Wood, though, is needed to start the firing of kilns which burn bagasse blocks, but it

might be possible to identify other waste materials for this purpose with further study.