Accomplishments of the Project

Conduct of briquetting trials using carbonized cacao pod husk

Figure 1. Mixing of carbonized cacao pod husks and binder for briquetting

Multiple briquetting trials were conducted using cacao pod husk as raw material. This is part
of the follow-through on the capacity-building of the cooperators gauging towards deep
familiarization of the machinery and independence in production (i.e. less interventions). Also, these
briquetting trials were also used as monitoring of the production of briquettes of the cooperators. For
2023, there was only one worker for the whole briquetting production of the cooperator. The
produced briquettes were then dried using a multipurpose dryer (Figure 2).

Figure 2. Drying of produced cacao pod husk briquettes using a multipurpose dryer.

The briquettes are then dried for three to seven days, before it is deemed as ready for selling. Once
dried, the briquettes were then packed by one kilo (14 to 15 pieces) in plastic bags, properly sealed
and labeled with a sticker.

It is also worth mentioning that briquetting trials using cacao pod husk were conducted at
the BPED Laboratory. Cacao pod husks were collected from Nagcarlan, Laguna. The cacao pod husks
were then dried, carbonized, undergone size reduction and used for the briquetting trials.
Conduct of briquetting trials using an alternative biomass

By nature, cacao is a seasonal crop with its mid-season expected around April, and its peak
season commonly expected around October. As such, the supply of cacao pod husks is not stable for
the whole year. Moreover, the inclement weather in Cadalian makes it more difficult to dry the
collected cacao pod husks as fast as possible. Given this, alternative biomass that is readily available,
has a stable supply and can be sourced from nearby places, was explored. One particular alternative
biomass that was explored was coconut shell. Though this biomass has been extensively studied for
briquetting, this is a special case since the considered “waste material” of charcoal production was
utilized, which is coconut shell charcoal fines (Figure 3). The material is sourced from a coconut
charcoal processing hub in Tugbok, Davao City, approximately 24 kilometer away from FARDECO.

Figure 3. Carbonized coconut shell charcoal fines at the bottom of the grader in Tugbok, Davao City.

To assure the stable supply of coconut shell charcoal fines for briquette production, a meeting
was scheduled with the owner of the processing hub and cooperators. It was agreed that the
cooperator can procure coconut shell charcoal fines, but limited to only 300 kilograms every month.
Given that the raw material was already carbonized, it saves time for drying and carbonization of raw
material, hence, more convenient to process. Following the procurement of the raw material,
briquetting trials were conducted. The appropriate biomass to binder ratio was determined. As a
baseline, the mixture used for cacao was utilized, yielding to good results.
 Figure 4. Mixing of coconut shell charcoal fines and binder using mechanical mixer

Figure 5. Collection of produced briquettes in preparation for drying.

Similar to cacao pod husk briquettes, briquetting trials using coconut shell charcoal fines was
conducted at the BPED Lab. Raw materials were collected from Tugbok, Davao City. The raw material
was then subjected to size reduction, and used for briquetting trials. The conduct of briquetting trials
at the lab for both raw materials was an initiative to compare the production of two briquetting
machines if the results present any difference. Also, it was done for comparison to the drying practices
in Davao, given the inclement weather.

Analysis of briquette samples

Produced briquettes made from carbonized cacao pod husks were sent for analysis to FPRDI
for proximate analysis and heating value analysis. Based on the proximate analysis results, the cacao
pod husk briquettes have an average moisture content, average volatile combustible matter, average
fixed carbon content and average ash content are 6.96%, 33.73%, 42.93% and 23.34%, respectively.
The average heating value of cacao pod husk briquettes is 4,693.44 cal/g.
Figure 6. Results for the proximate analysis of carbonized cacao pod husks briquettes

Figure 7. Results for the heating value analysis of carbonized cacao pod husks briquettes

Produced briquettes made from cacao pod husk and coconut shell charcoal fines were
characterized. Briquettes produced in Davao and at the BPED laboratory were subjected to different
physicochemical analyses. Physicochemical analyses of briquettes include: bulk density, shatter
resistance, abrasion resistance, compressive strength resistance and burning rate.

The bulk densities of cacao pod husk briquettes produced in Davao and at the BPED laboratory
were 0.5221 g/cm3 and 0.5253 g/cm3, respectively. On the other hand, the bulk densities for coconut
shell charcoal fines briquettes were 0.7197 g/cm3 and 0.65 g/cm3, respectively.

The impact resistance of briquettes was measured to determine the durability of the fuel
briquettes during handling and transport. The impact resistance of briquettes measures their
resistance to breakage when dropped from a specified test height onto a floor of known material
surface. The percentage weight loss is reported as a measure of the briquette resistance to impact.
The average shatter resistances for CPH briquettes and CSCF briquettes produced at the BPED
laboratory were 96.69% and 99.18%, respectively. The average shatter resistance for CSCF briquettes
produced in Davao was 99.09%.
 Figure 8. Conduct of impact resistance of briquettes by drop to fracture test

Impact resistance index (IRI) is based on the percentage ratio of average number of times a
biomass briquette is dropped on a concrete floor at a specified height until it fractures to the average
number of resulting pieces the briquettes breaks into. According to Richards (1990), an IRI of 50 has
been adopted to be the lowest acceptable impact resistance for fuel briquettes being developed for
industrial or domestic applications. The computed IRI for CPH briquettes and CSCF briquettes
produced at the BPED laboratory, and CSCF briquettes produced from Davao were 312.77, 165.26 and
155.20, respectively.

Figure 9. Conduct of abrasion resistance analysis using

Abrasion resistance is a measure of the briquette’s ability to remain intact under the influence
of abrasive forces during handling, storage and transportation. The average abrasion resistances for
CPH briquettes and CSCF briquettes from Davao were 31.27% and 91.82%, respectively. On the other
hand, the average abrasion resistances for CPH briquettes and CSCF briquettes produced at the BPED
laboratory were 90.51% and 91.40%, respectively.
 Figure 10. Conduct of burning rate analysis of briquettes made from coconut shell charcoal fines.

Burning rate determines the rate at which a certain mass of fuel is combusted in air. The
average burning rates for CPH briquettes and CSCF briquettes were 0.50 g/min and 0.36 g/min.

Conduct of technology demonstration

Figure 11. Group photo of participant and PHilMech staff during the technology demonstration of
briquetting system
Figure 12. Demonstration of the operation of the briquetting machine

Conduct of exit conference with project implementers and cooperator

Figure 13. Documentation of the conducted exit conference in Cadalian, Baguio Dist., Calinan, Davao
City.

An exit conference was conducted with project implementers and project cooperators in
Cadalian, Baguio Dist., Calinan, Davao City. The agenda of the exit conference include the following:
a.) findings of implementers; b.) future plans of the cooperators, and; c.) other matters pertaining to
the production of briquettes of the cooperator. Among the findings discussed by the implementers
include the results of physico-chemical analyses of briquettes, data on acceptability testing and
market promotion, and financial viability and sensitivity analysis of production of cacao pod husk
briquettes and coconut shell charcoal fines briquettes.
Figure 14. Photo opportunity of project cooperators and implementers after the exit conference.