Materials Needed:
Coconut husks
Metal drum or kiln (for burning)
Small firewood or kindling (for ignition)
Starch (e.g., cornstarch or cassava starch) – acts as a binder for briquettes
Water
Mixing container
Briquette molds (optional, for shaping)
Steps:
1. Carbonizing the Coconut Husk:
Prepare the Coconut Husks: Ensure the coconut husks are dry for effective carbonization.\
Set Up the Drum/Kiln: Place the drum on a safe, open surface. If using a kiln, make sure it has a chimney for smoke control.
Ignite the Husk: Place some kindling at the bottom of the drum, add the coconut husks, and light the fire. Cover the drum partially, leaving a small opening for smoke to escape. This will encourage a slow, controlled burn that prevents the husks from turning to ash.
Carbonization: Allow the husks to burn in low oxygen for 4-6 hours until they are fully carbonized into charcoal.
Cooling: After carbonization, seal the drum to cut off oxygen and let it cool. Once cooled, remove the charcoal.
2. Crushing the Charcoal:
Break the coconut husk charcoal into smaller pieces.
Grind or crush the charcoal into a fine powder using a hammer or grinder. Fine powder makes it easier to form uniform briquettes.
3. Preparing the Starch Binder:
Mix starch with water in a container to form a thick paste. Use a 5-10% starch solution, meaning for every 100g of charcoal powder, prepare about 5-10g of starch paste.
Cooking the Starch (Optional): To create a stronger binder, heat the starch solution over low heat, stirring constantly until it becomes a thick, sticky gel. Let it cool before using.
4. Mixing Charcoal Powder with Starch:
In a mixing container, combine the charcoal powder and starch binder. The ratio should be roughly 95% charcoal powder to 5% starch binder by weight.
Mix thoroughly until the charcoal powder is evenly coated with the starch solution, forming a moldable paste.
5. Forming Briquettes:
Scoop the charcoal-starch mixture into briquette molds, or shape it into balls by hand.
Press the mixture firmly to ensure the briquettes are dense and compact. If using a mold, apply enough pressure for a sturdy form.
6. Drying the Briquettes:
Carefully remove the formed briquettes from the molds.
Place the briquettes in a well-ventilated area to dry for 2-3 days. Avoid direct sunlight to prevent cracking.
Alternatively, use an oven or dryer at a low temperature to speed up the drying process.
7. Storing the Briquettes:
Once dry, store the briquettes in a dry, airtight container or bag to keep them from absorbing moisture.
These coconut husk charcoal briquettes are now ready for use a s fuel, providing a longer, more sustainable burn than loose charcoal.
In conclusion, these are the steps ir procedures for converting coconut husk into our local charcoal
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