Virtual Booth

The increasing generation of agricultural and industrial waste has become an environmental and resource management challenge, creating a need for innovative approaches to waste valorisation and renewable energy production. ReFulia is a sustainable biocoke innovation developed by integrating spent mushroom baglog as a biomass feedstock and batik wax waste as a binder. This study aims to investigate the feasibility of converting these two waste materials into a value-added solid fuel while determining the optimum proportion of batik wax waste for biocoke production. The spent mushroom baglog is first cleaned, dried and ground before undergoing pyrolysis to produce biochar with a higher carbon content. The biochar is subsequently mixed with batik wax waste at different concentrations of 0%, 10%, 20%, 30% and 40%, represented by C0, M10, M20, M30 and M40, respectively. The mixtures are then moulded and compressed to form ReFulia biocoke samples. The physical and energy properties of the samples are evaluated through density, moisture content, ash content, compression strength, burning duration, burning temperature and calorific value tests. In addition, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) is used to identify functional groups and chemical changes, while Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) is used to examine the surface morphology and pore structure of the biocoke. The comparison between different formulations will enable the optimum composition to be identified based on the balance between structural stability and energy performance. By transforming spent mushroom baglog and batik wax waste into a single value-added product, ReFulia introduces a two-waste-to-one-energy-product approach that supports waste reduction and circular economy principles. The innovation also has potential for further development as a biomass-based solid fuel for suitable applications, subject to further performance, safety and standards validation. Overall, ReFulia demonstrates the potential of combining agricultural and industrial waste to develop a more sustainable and resource-efficient energy solution, contributing to SDG 7, SDG 9, SDG 12 and SDG 13.