Gingoog Christian College

United Church of Christ in the Philippines

Gingoog City

Feasibility of Coconut Husk, Rice Husk and Sawdust Blend: An

Alternative Source of Energy for Cooking

A Research Proposal Submitted

In Partial fulfilment of the Course Requirement in the Subject

Research 1

Researchers:
Baranggan, Marlon S.
Felisilda, James Lyndon
Omas-as, Aljhon
Daculo, Felipe C. Jr
Janog, Jestoni D.

Dr. Melinda M. Garabato

Instructor
 1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

The Philippines as an agricultural country produces massive amount of bio-residue

(biomass) with corresponding potentials to be utilized as renewable source of energy for such vital

activity as cooking by means of briquetting. This includes the used of rice husks, sugar cane

bagasse, coconut wastes, and urban solid wastes in producing biomass briquettes (Banconguis,

2007).

In fact, the Department of Energy (DOE) is promoting the widespread development of

biomass usage. There are nine commercial firms in the year 1996 which produced ranging amounts

of 1 ton/day to 50 tons/day. But, limited commercial production of biomass briquettes in the

Philippines is present. It is due to the stopped operation of the four main briquetting plants. The

raw materials used for production of briquettes are charcoal fines, sawdust and rice husk. However,

the production of biomass briquettes in the country is expensive (Grover & Mishra, 1996).

Furthermore, different researchers from across the globe have already proven the use of

agricultural wastes in producing biomass briquettes such as rice husk (Grover & Mishra 1996),

cotton stalk and water hyacinths (Koser et, al. 1983), wheat straw and saw dust (Wamukonya &

Jekins 1995), cotton stalk (Onaji & Siemons 1993) , corn cob (Medhiyanon et, al. 2006), wheat

straw and waste paper (Demirbas & Sahin 1998), but the research on briquetting the blended

coconut husk, rice husk and sawdust has yet to be conducted.

Thus, this study aims to produce a biomass briquettes which will makes use of coconut

husk, rice husk and sawdust as the raw materials that are blended together.
1.2 Statement of the Problem

This study seeks to the feasibility of blending coconut husk, rice husk and sawdust in

producing biomass briquettes; specifically, it seeks to answer the following questions:

1. Is blending coconut husk, rice husk and sawdust to produce biomass briquettes an

effective source of energy for such vital activity as cooking?

2. How long does is take for a coconut husk, rice husk and sawdust blend briquette to ignite

and burn?

3.What is the mechanical strength of the blended biomass briquette?

1.3 Significance of the Study

This study can provide information about the feasibility of producing biomass briquettes

from coconut husk, rice husk and saw dust blend with a binder. As a reaction of the increasing

harmful effects of cutting down trees for firewood, hazardous emission of Carbon Dioxide (𝐶𝑂2)

and Nitrogen Dioxide (𝑁𝑂2 ) in using charcoal for cooking, and the massive need for energy

sources due to the rapid increase population in the Philippines, the study focuses in producing

biomass briquettes from the three agricultural residues mentioned.

Furthermore, this research can help to the sustenance for the energy shortage existing in

the country for such vital activity as cooking. Hence, the success of the study will partly affirm the

effectiveness of the coconut husk, rice husk and sawdust blend as an efficient biomass in the

production of briquette.
1.4 Scope and Limitation

This study will makes use the coconut husk, rice husk, and saw dust blend as the raw

material in the production of the biomass briquettes which will be collected from Gingoog City,

Misamis Oriental. The sample analysis will be done in the in Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental.

This study will only focus on the feasibility of the produced briquettes in terms of their ignition,

burning duration and mechanical strength.

Thus, this study is not conducted for large-scale production, instead, as for a lab study only.

Ordinary home tools will be used in the production of the briquettes. The binder that will be used

is starch at 10% and the biomass briquette blend for the coconut husk, rice husk and sawdust will

be in the ratio of 20:30:40, 30:40:20, 40:20:30 and 30:30:30.

2. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

The vital role of energy towards a nations development cannot be overemphasized due to

the reason that energy is the cornerstone of social and economic development (El-Saeidy, 2004).

One of the earliest sources of energy especially in rural areas is biomass due to its accessibility

and affordability as source of energy. In the environment, biomass is environmental friendly fuel

and has some benefits over fossil fuel such as natural gas, petroleum and coal (Boyle, 2004)

Different agricultural residues have been used to generate power as biomass fuel like

briquettes that could lessen the present problems related in management for proper disposal

(Fernandes et, al. 2013).

Briquettes are materials that are flammable formed from the densification or compression

of matter to solid form to be used as fuel. Briquetting is often used binder to bind together
pulverized carbonaceous matter. Briquettes have common forms which are the coal and biomass

briquettes. Biomass briquettes mostly originated from agricultural residues including the charcoal

briquettes. There are advantages can be derived from converting the agricultural residues to

briquettes. Some of the those include easier way of getting energy supply for ironing clothes and

cooking due to the ease in transporting agricultural wastes in a form of briquette; and the raw

materials are sourced that would have been unproperly disposed, and such it makes energy out of

it. Briquetting increases density, heat emitted, and strength per volume of biomass (Ugwu et, al.

2013).

The sawdust briquette compared to bio-fuel has a positive result: with a higher bulk density,

materials currently used, similar levels of calorific power, low levels of fixed carbon, chlorine and

sulfur and less moisture which are promoting a healthier environment (Sanchez et, al. 2014). On

the other hand, coconut husk is used for extracting fiber in industries which is commonly used in

making mattress, ropes, household products like floor mats, door mats, brushes, floor tiles, sacking

and twine (Saha et, al. 2014). Meanwhile rice husk is a feasible biomass. It has a good flow ability,

available with 10-12% moisture and contained ash, and fewer alkaline minerals. Despite the fact

that rice husk has a high calorific value than other agro-residues, it is still makes an excellent fuel

(Francis and Peters, 1965)

In fact, biomass briquettes were replacing wood and fossil fuels as the main source energy

for cooking to the fact that it is light to handle and cleaner, even in industrial processes it lessens

the greenhouse gases emissions and large accumulation of ash (Fulford and Wheldon, 2013).