Coconut shell charcoal has a lot of uses and a high market value. If you grasp the techniques of how to make charcoal from coconut shell, you will get good economic benefits. It is a good investment for those with access to coconut shell waste. This guide covers the essential steps and considerations for producing high-quality charcoal from coconut shells.
Necessary Factors for Making Charcoal from Coconut Shell
Raw Materials
To maintain production levels, a stable and consistent supply of coconut shells is essential. You can know the information below to source waste coconut shells to make charcoal.
- Source: Waste coconut shells, fibers, and residual coconut meat from coconut plantations and processing factories.
- Quantity: Approximately 50 million coconut shells are discarded annually.
- Major Producers: Indonesia, the Philippines, and India, which together account for 70% of global coconut production.
- Potential Value: Coconut shells are energy-rich(rich in cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin) and inexpensive, making charcoal production feasible.
Charcoal Machine
The production process requires a coconut shell charcoal machine with specific features:
- Temperature Regulation: ensure the quality of the output charcoal.
- Safety Designs: ensure safety of machine operation and personal safety of workers.
- Waste Emission control: effective control of wastewater, waste residue, and exhaust gas.
Factory Site
A suitable factory site may meet the following criteria:
- Space Requirements: Adequate space for the charcoal machine, and storage for raw materials and finished products.
- Suggestion: Setting up factories in the above-mentioned countries where coconut shell waste is abundant is a good choice because it can save some transportation costs. Or if you have planned a specific sales area to sell finished charcoal, you can also build a factory next to it.
Experienced Workers
Efficient production requires skilled and trained workers:
- Operate Machinery: Capable of handling the charcoal machine and managing the production process.
- Material Handling: Efficiently manage raw materials and finished products.
- Safety Protocols: Undergo training programs to understand and implement safety protocols and operating procedures.
How to Make Charcoal from Coconut Shell: A Step-by-Step Guide
Making charcoal from coconut shells is a beneficial and environmentally friendly process that turns waste into a valuable resource. Here is a detailed, user-friendly charcoal machine guide. It can help you make high quality coconut shell charcoal using high temperature and low oxygen pyrolysis technology.
Step 1: Pretreat
You need to determine whether further drying or crushing is necessary based on the moisture content and size of the coconut shell raw material.
- Crushing (optional): Use a crusher to process coconut shells into target sizes (less than 20mm).
- Drying (optional): Use a dryer to keep coconut shells’ moisture content below 15%.
Step 2: Carbonize the Coconut Shells
- Load the shells: Place the shredded and dry coconut shells into the carbonization furnace with a screw feeder.
- Seal the furnace: Make sure the furnace is properly sealed to maintain a low-oxygen environment. This prevents the shells from burning completely and turning to ash.
- Heat the reactor: Starting combustion chamber. The temperature of the furnace should gradually rise to ensure proper carbonization. Aim for a temperature range of 250°C to 450°C.
- Wait for pyrolysis: This is the key phase where the coconut shells transform into charcoal. Depending on your setup and the amount of coconut shells, this process can take 15-25 minutes.
- Monitor the temperature and maintain it within the desired range.
- Let the furnace cool: Once the shells have fully carbonized, allow the furnace to cool down with cooling system. Do not open the furnace immediately, as sudden exposure to air can cause the charcoal to ignite.
- Cool the Charcoal: After the furnace has cooled completely, open it and carefully collect the charcoal.
Step 3: Form Charcoal Briquettes
- Add binder to charcoal briquette making machine: Mix the charcoal powder with a binder to help it adhere together. The typical ratio is a The proportion of plant-based binders added is about 10% – 13%. The proportion of chemical binders added is about 3% – 5%.
- Wait for mixing and pressing into briquettes: Now you need to wait. Double shaft mixer and wheel mill will uniformly mix charcoal powder with additives. Then the molding machine will press it into the shape and size you want, such as charcoal sticks, spherical charcoal.
- Wait for briquettes drying: The dryer will remove this moisture and ensure that the briquettes are properly cured.
Practical Tips about Making Charcoal from Coconut Shells
Safety First
Always wear protective gear when handling charcoal and during the carbonization process. Pay attention to fire safety. Never leave the carbonization process unattended.
Focus on Efficiency
If you plan to produce large quantities, consider setting up a continuous carbonization system to increase efficiency.
Clean Charcoal Briquettes Machine Timely
After each production cycle, the residual charcoal powder and added binder in the charcoal briquetting machine shall be cleaned in time. Lone-time residue may lead to uneven discharging of charcoal.
Store Charcoal Correctly
Store the finished charcoal in a dry, cool place to prevent it from absorbing moisture from the air, which can affect its quality.
How about Quality of Coconut Shell Charcoal?
Quality check is important to evaluate the practicability of the charcoal. You should pay attention to two aspects of the charcoal:
- Burn Test: Light a sample briquette to test its quality. High-quality briquettes should burn steadily with minimal smoke and leave little ash.
- Inspect for Uniformity: Check the briquettes for uniformity in size, shape, and hardness.
A report about the coconut shell below for your reference:
Practical Projects of Making Charcoal from Coconut Shell
2-4m³/h Coconut Shell to Charcoal Solution in Indonesia
- Project Time: 2023
- Charcoal Use: BBQ
- Coconut Shell Processing Machine Model: BST-10
2-4m³/h Biomass to Charcoal Making Solution in China
- Project Time: 2021
- Charcoal Use: Energy Fuel
- Machine Model: BST-10
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