Have you ever thought that coconut fruit waste that is usually thrown away can be transformed into high-quality coconut shell charcoal briquette? Yup, coconut shells are an environmentally friendly source of charcoal that produces stable heat. The manufacturing process is also relatively easy and does not require a lot of energy.
The process starts with burning the raw materials in a special furnace with controlled temperature and airflow. The result is a flat charcoal that is light, dense and has a long burn life. One exciting thing is about the yield. From so many raw materials, how much charcoal can be produced?
The Conversion Rate of Coconut Shell Charcoal Briquette
Understanding the conversion rate of raw materials into a product is essential. It includes the process of making charcoal from coconut shell. So, how much is produced from some coconut shells using different charcoal-making methods? Here is the explanation:
1. Carbonization Method
Carbonization is the process of burning coconut shell raw materials in a limited air supply. The goal is to turn it into high-quality charcoal without burning it into ash. The process is relatively simple, but setting the optimal conditions for perfect carbonization requires expertise.
The charcoal produced by this method is of lower quality and contains many impurities. This method takes approximately 3 to 6 hours for every 25 kg of coconut shells. Usually, every 125 kg will produce 30 kilograms of charcoal or about 24% yield. The carbonized charcoal will be converted into smaller sizes.
2. Drum Method
Next, a more practical method uses drums with a larger capacity than carbonization. Steel drums are filled with raw materials from briquette and burned with a limited air supply. This process produces more durable charcoal, and the heat is more stable than firewood.
The process involves placing coconut shells inside a drum and burning them slowly over low heat. A chimney is installed to remove smoke and flue gas. Carbonization starts from the bottom of the drum and gradually rises to the top. When the bottom is reached, it is opened to add more shells.
The process is then repeated until the entire drum is filled with charcoal. This drum method will produce an average of 35 kg of charcoal from 1000 whole coconut shells. It means that to produce 1 ton of charcoal or about 1000 kg, about 30,000 shells from intact coconuts are needed.
Factors Affecting the Conversion of Coconut Shells into Charcoal
The process of converting coconut shells into charcoal briquettes, also known as carbonization, has attracted the attention of researchers and industry players. Here are several factors that affect the conversion rate:
1. Charcoal Making Method
Various methods convert coconut shells into charcoal, such as drums, traditional furnaces, and retorts. Each method has a different conversion rate. For example, the drum method will produce an average of 35 kg of charcoal from 1000 kg of raw material. The traditional furnace method will have a lower conversion rate than the drum method.
2. Shell Quality
The condition and age of the coconut shells also affect the charcoal yield. Shells from older coconuts are usually drier and will produce more charcoal. Shells from younger coconuts have a higher water content and are wetter. Thick and hard shells also produce denser and more durable charcoal.
3. Burning Conditions
The burning process parameters, such as temperature, airflow, and duration, impact the charcoal yield. Higher temperatures and controlled airflow produce higher-quality charcoal. Burning for too short a time produces undercooked charcoal while burning for too long produces ash.
Conclusion
The conversion of the coconut shell charcoal briquette is an exciting process with great potential. It can create new economic opportunities while providing environmental benefits. We can utilize the capabilities of coconut shells to produce a more ecological and sustainable outcome by taking a small step towards benefiting the environment.
