Paper and dry plant biomass consists mainly of cellulose and can be efficiently recycled as a fuel without negatively impacting on the natural carbon cycle.
This prompted the Swaziland-based engineering company New Dawn Engineering to design the Paper Brick Maker. It recycles waste paper and cardboard into fuel bricks to burn instead of using firewood or coal. With paper as a binder, other combustible materials including wood chips, dry grass and coal dust can be added.
A mix of these products is shredded and added to a drum of water, while stirring. The idea is to produce a pulpy mass. A tablespoon of Jik or dishwashing liquid speeds up the process. The soaking can take from an hour to four days. Soaking for more than 10 days leads to bacterial growth.
Once the material is pulped, it’s put into the Paper Brick Maker. The base-plate lid is placed on top and the handles are folded over. The pressure then squeezes out excess water. The brick can then be turned out.
It will be soft, so carry it on the base plate to a shelf to dry in the sun. After about two days the water evaporates.
The Women for Peace movement in Johannesburg have reported that the bricks are in great demand in the eastern townships and coal or wood stoves will burn for about four hours on them. Mixing in coal-dust waste improves the fuel value of the brick, as long as the dust comes from coal with a relatively high volatility content. If it’s semi-anthracitic it doesn’t ignite. The Paper Brick maker sells for about R280.
For more information contact Auriel Mitchley on (011) 889 0796 or e-mail [email protected]. |fw
Recycling paper to fuel
This product is ideal for wood-fired stoves or open fires.
Issue date 13 February 2009
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