Briquetting is the transformation of a powdery or granular product into a larger more convenient size. This is accomplished by compacting the product with a roller press sometimes in the presence of a binder material. The briquettes can be produced with high or low pressure and can undergo mechanical or thermal treatment according to the characteristics of the processed material, the binder used and the desired end product.

The main stages of the process include:

• Product Preparation Equipment (screens, crushers and dryers)
• Product/Binder Mixing Equipment
• The Briquetting Machine
• Post Briquetting Processing Equipment (air or oven drying, curing, polymerization and aging)

The capacity of a briquetting process can range from 50 kg/h to 100 T/h with a temperature range of -40C to +1000C.

FEECO International has joined forces with Sahut Conreur S. A. of Raismes, France to serve the North American market for compaction and granulation equipment. Sahut Conreur was established in 1859, specializing in compaction and briquetting equipment. The two companies have combined resources to provide single pieces of this equipment as well as complete turn-key systems.

The briquetting units shape fine materials into larger forms of varied shapes, sizes and volumes (from a few cc up to 600 cc and more), these characteristics are defined according to the product end use.

If the cohesive forces (particulate cohesion, valence forces ,recrystallization) between particles are low, a binder has to be used before agglomeration. The physical properties of the feed material, the end use of the briquettes and the cost of binder addition have to be taken into account before a selection is made. A large variety of (liquid or solid) binders is offered: starch, bentonite, bitumen, lime, cement, water, flour, lignosulphonates, molasses, polymer, resin, sodium silicate, etc...

The briquettes are obtained at a low or high pressure and can undergo mechanical or thermal treatment according to the characteristics of the processed material, the binder used and the desired end product.

Some of the materials that are commonly briquetted include:

• Chemicals
• Minerals
• Gypsum
• Chromium, Cobalt, Copper, Iron, lead
• Steel turnings
• Coal, Coke, Charcoal, Carbon Black
• Lignite, Peat
• Phosphates
• Clay
• Detergents
• Frozen Foods
• Sugar
• Glass Batch
• Dried Sewage Sludge