Utilizing Coconut Waste into Coconut Shell Charcoal for Fuel and Other Benefits

Indonesia is known as one of the world's largest coconut producers. In 2019, Indonesia's coconut production reached 17.13 million tons, and according to statistical data from the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS), Indonesia exported 1.53 million tons of coconuts, valued at US$ 819.26 million, by the third quarter of 2020.

Coconut shells are a by-product of coconut consumption. While coconut meat is used for coconut oil and food products, coconut shells, or husks, also hold significant economic value. One high-value product is coconut shell charcoal. This charcoal is not only used as fuel but also serves various industrial applications, from beauty products and water filtration to being a raw material for briquette production. Coconut shell waste is still rarely utilized by the community due to its high moisture content, which requires further processing to be transformed into coconut shell charcoal. Although classified as organic waste, coconut shells are not easily decomposed by microorganisms due to their lignin content.

Coconut shell charcoal is produced by burning the coconut shells in low-oxygen conditions, a process known as pyrolysis. This process turns the coconut shell into solid charcoal with a high carbon content. Coconut shell charcoal is known for its high quality, durability, and ability to produce more stable heat than regular wood charcoal. During the pyrolysis process, non-carbon elements such as Hydrogen (H) and Oxygen (O) are eliminated, leaving as much Carbon (C) as possible in the coconut shell—a process also known as carbonization. The chemical composition of coconut shells, consisting of 74.3% C, 21.9% O, 0.2% Si, 1.4% K, 0.5% S, and 1.7% P, makes it a viable fuel source and raw material for activated carbon.

BENEFITS OF COCONUT SHELL CHARCOAL

Coconut shell charcoal can be compressed into briquettes or pellets. Besides being used as fuel, coconut shell charcoal offers various other benefits, such as in the activated carbon industry, where it is commonly used for water filtration and air purification. The charcoal can filter contaminants like chlorine, organic compounds, and unpleasant odors. In the beauty industry, coconut shell charcoal can be used as a face mask, toothpaste, and other skincare treatments, as it absorbs excess oil and cleanses skin pores effectively