Converting Waste Agricultural Biomass into a Resource - UNEP

Charcoal from Coconut Shell
Philippines, Commercial
Crop
Residue
Process
Equipment
Main Product
Coconut
Coconut Shell
Carbonization
Brick Kiln
Charcoal
By products
Technical Description of Technology
The brick kiln is made of 2”x4”x8” standard rectangular bricks, constructed in
a dome-shape. The kiln’s dome structure is for the purpose of optimal
carbonization process. Its inside has a base diameter of 1.2 meters and a net
height of 1.10 meters with an approximate volume of 0.73 cubic meters. This
prototype kiln can accommodate approximately 3,000 pieces of average split
shells. This could be increased if the shells are semi-crushed.
The charcoal brick kiln is expected to last for five years or more with an initial
investment of PhP 4,100 while the drum kiln has a serviceable life span of six
months to one year, with each drum costing PhP 500.
Advantages to Developing Countries
Coconut (Cocos nucifera) remains to be the top cultivated crop in the
Philippines. Out of the 12 million hectares of farmlands in the country, 3.1
million hectares of it is devoted to coconut production. With the vast size of
farmland devoted to coconut farming, it can be said that a large percentage of
the country’s population still depends on coconut for their living.
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