Physical Characteristics Studies of Biocoal from Waste Tender Coconut

Author: M.K. Ghosal and Kingshuk Roy*

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Abstract

A study was conducted to develop a suitable practice/technology for the effective utilization of one of the most neglected agro-residues i.e. waste tender coconut (husk and shell) for its safe disposal and deriving energy out of it. Carbonization of waste tender coconut in raw form (10-14 % moisture contents) and then densification of the produced char are followed to obtain the briquetted char, known as biocoal which possesses the coal-like properties for widening its application as an energy rich and high density solid biofuel especially in domestic and industrial sectors. The loose char obtained from the carbonization process was densified by hand press method using cheaply available binding materials such as cow dung, kitchen waste, food waste, waste paper slurry and grass to prepare biocoal for assessing its physical characteristics. From the study, it was revealed that biocoal with cow dung as binder exhibited highest quality and durability (durability index is 86 %) fo

Keywords

Tender coconut wastes, bioenergy resource, biocoal, carbonization of biomass, briquetting

Conclusion

Carbonization and densification of waste tender coconuts is a simple and low-cost technology for their effective utilization in order to produce a solid biofuel of high density and energy concentrated biocoal for easy handling, safe storage and convenient transportation compared to raw and unprocessed biomass. Not much studies have been so far conducted for preparation of bio-coal from waste tender coconut (husk and shell) for assessing its physical characteristics to produce solid biofuel of desired quality and durability. The findings of the study would provide right information to the coconut growers, vendors, entrepreneurs, environmentalists etc. about the practice for waste to energy. From the study, the following conclusions have been drawn. 1. The density of biocoal is increased by about 2.8 times than that of its loose char by following hand press method of compaction. 2. Briquette prepared from the char of waste tender coconut with cow dung as binding material was found to

References

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How to cite this article

Ghosal, M.K. and Roy, K. (2021). Physical Characteristics Studies of Biocoal from Waste Tender Coconut. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 13(3a): 691-695.