Congratulations Gideon Opoku

Gideon Opoku is a graduating MPhil. Bioengineering student from the Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Department at KNUST.  His research interests are biomass utilisation to produce clean fuels and waste management.

For his MPhil project, he focused on the production and quality assessment of charcoal briquettes from the blend of Water Hyacinth and Palm Fruit Fiber. He blended the char of Water Hyacinth and Palm Fruit Fiber at ratios of 70:30, 50:50, and 30:70. The study revealed that a 30:70 blend with 15 percent Cassava Starch was the optimal blend in terms of the briquette’s chemical and thermal properties. Regarding the briquette’s physical properties, a 30:70 blend with 25 percent Cassava Starch was investigated as the optimal blend recommended in humid areas. He hopes his research will advance knowledge and inform decision-making in biomass utilisation, especially in charcoal briquette production.

KEEP has been instrumental in his academic success by providing financial support and internship opportunities. He is very grateful for the mentorship, encouragement, and training he received from the staff and management of KEEP.

As he enters a new season of life, he plans to pursue a PhD in Bioengineering. He hopes to advance his knowledge in biomass waste processing and management and implement the knowledge acquired.