Abstract
Cattle feedlot manure could be used effectively as the solid fuel for heating of agricultural facilities. Therefore, this study was carried out to investigate the thermal and physicochemical characteristics of solid fuel extruded with cattle feedlot manure. Calorific values of the solid fuel extruded with cattle feedlot manure, which was dried to the moisture contents of 0.0% (w.b) and 35.0% (w.b,) were 14,906 kJ/kg and 11,797 kJ/kg, respectively. Calorific value of extruded solid fuel was linearly decreased with the increase of moisture content. The first, second, and third reaction point during thermal pyrolysis of solid fuels extruded with cattle feedlot manure was investigated as $108.1^{\circ}C$, $312.2^{\circ}C$, and $459.4^{\circ}C$, respectively. The maximum reaction point was presented at the temperature of $312.2^{\circ}C$. Weight loss of extruded cattle feedlot manure during thermal pyrolysis until $600^{\circ}C$ was reached to about 60%. Volume decrease of initial extruded cattle feedlot manure was 61% during drying for the use as solid fuel. Maximum strength of extruded cattle feedlot manure, which was dried as the moisture content of 10% (w.b.) was 41,9150 N/$m^2$. Ignition gas analysis of extruded cattle feedlot manure presented that it has small amount of $NO_x$ and $SO_x$. It was shown that dried cattle feedlot manure had main components of C and O including small amount of Mg, Si, and Ca.