Coconut Coir Research Articles

Utilization of Coconut Husk and Tofu Waste as Germination Planting Media to Supporting Organic Agriculture

Coconut husk is a waste from coconut plantation production and tofu waste is solid waste from tofu production. One problem and coconut husk is the tannin content that can inhibit plant growth and the low nutrient content of coconut coir. This study aims to determine the effectiveness of a mixture of coconut husk and tofu waste as a planting medium for germinating green beans, bok choy, and red chili in supporting organic farming. This research was carried out in Kaliabang Tengah District, North Bekasi District. From October 2021 until February 2022. The study used a factorial Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with one treatment factor. The first factor was planting media with M0= soil treatment, M1= coconut husk + tofu waste, M2 = coconut husk soaked in alum+ tofu waste, and M3= coconut husk soaked in detergent+ tofu waste. This study uses different plants with different seed sizes, green beans, bok choy, and red chili. The results of this study indicate that a good and effective planting medium for germination, germination age, and plant height is coconut husk soaked with alum + tofu waste. The use of growing media for coconut husk and tofu waste can interpret soil planting media in bean plants and plan height parameters on bok choy plants and as alternative media to replace soil planting media in supporting organic farming.

Pemanfaatan Agregat Sungai Buri’ Kecamatan Rembon Sebagai Substitusi Agregat Kasar Dan Sabut Kelapa Sebagai Bahan Tambah Terhadap Kuat Tekan Dan Kuat Tarik Belah Beton

In the current technological era, concrete is one of the most widely used building materials in the world, including in Indonesia, therefore good quality concrete will greatly support structural safety. Indonesia is also a developing country that has quite advanced industrial prospects. Buri River gravel material in Rembon Sub-district is still abundant. To utilize this material, in this study it will be used as a substitute for coarse aggregate. And the addition of coconut fiber as a fiber to support the compressive strength of the concrete, resisting the tensile force. This research is an experiment conducted at the Makassar Concrete Bosowa Laboratory. The substitution of the 'river buri' stamps to be used is 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%. As for the use of added coconut coir, constant 4% of the weight of cement in each substitution. From the results of the study with the substitution of 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% with the addition of 4% coconut husk, the results were 25.64 Mpa, 25.93 Mpa, 26.11 Mpa and 26.40 Mpa. And the split tensile strength produced is 2.59 Mpa, 2.97 Mpa, 3.11 Mpa, and 3.23 Mpa

PERFORMANCE OF WOOD COMPOSITES WITH NATURAL FIBER AS SOUND ABSORBER OF BUILDING MATERIALS

Natural fibers are an alternative to reduce the use of synthetic materials in acoustic products. Such fibers have the benefits of being inexpensive, environmentally benign, biodegradable, and safe for human health. The influence on sound absorption coefficient of different natural fibers including rubberwood, coconut coir, and oil palm empty fruit bunches was investigated. The samples were composed of three kinds of natural fibers, three different fiber sizes, and two different kinds of adhesives. The porosity values of the samples were found in the range of 4.58-8.84% whereas the lowest water absorption value was found on the sample with rubberwood fiber in the range of 57.62-127.83%. Impedance tube testing was used for the sound absorption tests following ISO 10534-2. The experimental result revealed that the natural fibers have good performance associated with the fiber length. The longer fiber performs the better sound absorption than that of the short fiber. All kinds of natural fiber plates tested had sound absorption of 50% above 3.5 kHz whereas the oil palm fiber gave the highest absorption coefficient at 95%. The fiber size fraction approved that those fibers could improve the peak values of sound absorption. The small fiber size gave higher peak values than that of the large fiber size. The type of adhesive influences sound absorption coefficient on the sample with small fiber size (80 mesh) than that of the large fiber size (40 mesh). The output of this study reveals the waste plant fibers could adopt to develop sound absorber building materials.

Assessing soil temperature and moisture fluctuations under irrigated banana (Musa spp.) cultivation in response to coconut coir mulch cover

The semiarid is characterized by extreme heat, which affects agricultural production by limiting the soil's ability to retain water. The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of mulch on soil temperature and soil moisture in a drip irrigated banana plantation in a Brazilian semiarid region. Six thermocouples and three soil moisture probes were used, with coconut coir as mulch. Daytime and nighttime surface temperatures were compared for two mulch densities (4 and 8 t ha-1) and bare soil. Soil temperature and moisture were measured at three depths (0.1, 0.3 and 0.5 m). The study was conducted from November 2014 to March 2015. Mulch had a buffer effect on soil temperature fluctuation. Drip irrigation management associated with mulch provided a uniform moisture profile close to field capacity.

Rantai Pasok Agroindustri Sabut Kelapa pada PT. Berkat Abadi Korindo Kecamatan Matuari Kota Bitung

This study aims to determine the production process of processing, coconut coir fishing nets and describe the flow of products, information flows and financial flows in the supply chain of fishing nets at PT. Berkat Abadi Korindo, Matuari District, Bitung City. This research was conducted for 2 months from September to October 2022. The sampling method used the purposive sampling method with the purpose and objective of the research, namely by selecting one of the staff/employees at PT. Berkat Abadi Korindo. The research uses primary data obtained from direct observation and interviews with respondents using a questionnaire. The analytical method used in this study is a descriptive analysis with a qualitative and quantitative approach. The results showed that supply chain actors in product flow, information flow and financial flow were farmers, collectors, PT. Berkat Abadi Korindo, expedition services and customers. Product flow in the Jaring Ikan supply chain, namely the supply of raw materials from coconut coir supply farmers to PT. Berkat Abadi Korindo, coconut fiber rope products has been exported to customers using expedition services. The flow of information that flows, namely information about the supply of raw materials from suppliers to factories and then product information from factories to customers. The financial flow that flows is in the form of payments made which pay to suppliers in cash/cash while for customer payments to the factory, namely the transfer payment system.

Container substrate components are a potential source of micronutrients for plant growth

The objective was to quantify the extractable micronutrient levels from container substrate components and limestone and their potential contribution as fertilizer sources for crop growth. Samples of horticultural limestone (29 samples) and substrate components [peat (48 samples), perlite (10), vermiculite (14), bark (15), and coconut coir (6)] were analyzed for micronutrient content with the SME (Saturated Medium Extract) method using either water (SMEW) or diethylenetriamine pentaacetate (SMED) as extractants for the substrate components, or following acid digestion of limestone samples. Samples were obtained from commercial substrate and greenhouse companies throughout the U.S. and Canada. Peat included 36 peat samples from two peat bogs in Alberta Canada to evaluate whether species composition, decomposition, and bog location affected micronutrient content. Increasing von Post decomposition increased SMEW and SMED Mn level and SMED Zn. As percent Sphagnum fuscum increased, extractable Fe and Mn levels increased for both extractant types, and SMEW extractable Zn increased. Based on established SME guidelines for acceptable to optimum nutrient levels for soilless substrates, peat and bark could potentially provide sufficient Fe and Mn to contribute to plant requirements. Average Fe content in limestone was 0.11%, and Mn content was 0.012%. Based on SMED extractions and lime analysis, Fe supplied by 100% peat and lime could potentially provide Fe at levels comparable with commercial pre-plant fertilizers if these Fe sources are plant-available. Substrate-pH affected solubility of Fe, Mn and Zn in peat. As substrate-pH increased, Fe and Zn solubility in peat decreased with both SMEW and SMED. The SMEW-extractable Mn decreased with increasing pH, in contrast to SMED-extractable Mn which increased as pH increased. Analysis of raw materials using SMED (substrate components) or complete digestion (limestone) is advised for substrate companies to proactively identify batches of components that may affect crop nutrition. Given this high level of potential contribution of Fe by peat and lime, it is likely that these uncontrolled sources contribute to nutrient uptake in horticultural production. However, further research is required to compare extractable micronutrients with actual plant uptake.

Utilization of Carboxymethyl Cellulose (CMC) from Coconut Coir Waste (Cocos nucifera) as a Stabilizer in Red Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L) Vegetable Milk

Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) synthesis from coconut coir waste provides an alternative that can be used as a stabilizer to manufacture red bean milk. The first step is to isolate alpha-cellulose with a 2% NaOH solution. Second, the etherification process is alkalization with isopropanol and 17.5% NaOH solution to produce alkaline cellulose, and then the carboxymethylation process with sodium monochloride acetate (NaMCA) and characterized by FT-IR. The resulting carboxymethyl cellulose is purified by centrifugation. Red bean milk was analyzed using proximate analysis, viscosity, percent stability, pH, and organoleptic content by varying CMC 0.1, 0.2, and 0.5%. The alpha cellulose obtained was 13.37%, and the CMC produced from the etherification and purification process was 5.97 g. The characterization of alpha-cellulose showed (OH) at wave number 3441cm-1, and the CMC characterization showed carbonyl (COO-) at wave number 1604.77 cm-1 and group ether (CH2-O-CH2) at wave number 1419.77. Proximate analysis of red bean milk protein content of 2.75%, carbohydrates 10.27%, fiber 8.5%, and fat 18.57% and results based on viscosity and percent stability were obtained by adding 0.5% CMC and organoleptic test results adding CMC preferably with 0.3%, the texture is not too thick and even, and the aroma of red beans is typical.

Urea–Lignin/Chitosan Nanocomposite as Slow-Release Nanofertilizer

Urea is a universal fertilizer, but its use efficiency hardly exceeds 30–35%, and more than 70% is lost to the environment, causing eutrophication in aquatic systems. This research focuses on encapsulating urea molecules using a lignin-chitosan composite. The nanocomposite was developed as a suitable carrier for entrapping nitrogenous fertilizer. Coconut coir contains plenty of lignin, which was extracted using the organosolv process by using ethanol as a solvent. Organosolv lignin (OSL) yielded spherical lignin nanoparticles (LNPs) via the solvent displacement method. Finally, a nitrogen source was loaded into the chitosan/lignin nanocomposite fertilizer (lignorea), which consists of LNPs, chitosan, and a cross-linker. The nanocomposite was characterized using PSA, SEM, TEM, UV–vis, FTIR, and XRD. The morphology of the OSL and LNPs was examined under SEM (626 ± 40 nm) and TEM (26 ± 9 nm). The noncrystallinity of both lignin and crystallinity after entrapment in nanocomposite was validated by XRD. The specific functional group pertaining to the lignin backbone had aromatic vibrations at 1511 cm–1 (OSL) and 1507 cm–1 (LNPs), and the presence of an amide peak after loading N was observed in FTIR. The lignin samples have their corresponding spectral absorbance at 281 and 288 nm wavelengths obtained in UV–vis. The size and stability of the extracted OSL and LNPs were verified by a particle size analyzer and zeta potential, respectively. The compatibility and interactions of the developed nanofertilizer were confirmed with molecular modeling and simulation. The developed nanofertilizer has total nitrogen of 30–35% which slowly releases up to 15 days in the soil. The study clearly suggests that lignin with chitosan served as a perfect template to hold and release N in a regulated pattern that collectively contributes to improved N use efficiency.

SISTEM PENDINGIN PANEL SURYA OTOMATIS UNTUK MENGKATKAN DAYA KELUARAN PANEL SURYA

Solar panels are the main component of solar power plant. In the Solar panels, conversion of solar energy into electrical energy are done. The results of the electrical energy produced by solar panels depend on the amount of solar intensity received by the solar panels. In addition, the working temperature of solar panels is also crucial. The ideal solar panel temperature is 25 C, which means that the solar panel will work optimally at that condition. When the temperature rises, the solar cell performance will decrease. This study aims to design a solar panel cooling system with active and passive methods using a way of flowing water over the surface of the solar panel and adding wet coconut coir on the back of the solar panel. The purpose of providing this treatment is to keep the surface temperature of the solar panel from overheating. This study uses a 100 WP solar panel and the results obtained that the average power generated is 69 W with an average voltage value of 15.47 V and an average current of 4.5 A. The performance 100 WP solar panels increased 24% of the reference solar panels being compared

Nontraditional Natural Filler-Based Biocomposites for Sustainable Structures

In recent years, there has been a growing awareness and demand for global sustainability, as well as a mandate for the use of renewable and environmentally sustainable materials and processes. Due to which, massive efforts are being made to develop and nurture the next generation of composite materials that are energy efficient, environmentally friendly, and biodegradable. Light weight, lower coefficient of thermal expansion, and comparable tensile strength exhibited by natural fibers render them the choice for use in several industrial products and applications over the last decade. Natural fibers as the reinforcing entity are pitted against their synthetic variants primarily because of the superior aspects like biodegradability and excellent strength-to-weight ratio. This article presents the review on various nonconventional natural fibers such as tamarind seed and shell, Luffa cylindrica, groundnut shell, coconut coir, papaya bast, okra, and Ashoka tree seed. The flow of the chapter includes the introduction, extraction methodologies, and fabrication, and investigations of mechanical properties, applications, and sustainability are dealt in detail for nontraditional natural fibers. The okra fibers possess greater tensile strength of up to 262.8 MPa in comparison with other fibers, while the Ashoka tree seed fibers are known to possess a maximum flexural strength of up to 125 MPa. Further, these fibers are used as reinforcements in potential applications in interiors and automobile and aircraft panels and wood-based particle board composites owing to the increase in tensile and flexural strengths of composites.

BIO-DESIGN AND FABRICATION OF BIO-COMPOSITE HELMET USING (SISAL, BANANA, JUTE AND COCONUT COIR)

BIO-DESIGN AND FABRICATION OF BIO-COMPOSITE HELMET USING (SISAL, BANANA, JUTE AND COCONUT COIR)

The effect of concentration extender on the making of lignin phenol-formaldehyde from coconut fibre as an environmentally friendly adhesive

This study aims to make adhesives with a variety of concentration extenders. First, the coconut husk was delignified with 25% NaOH and then precipitated with sulfuric acid. The yield of lignin from coconut coir was 38.92%, with a purity of 68%, a phenolic hydroxyl content of 2.47%, and an equivalent molecular weight of 1666.67 g/mol. Lignin was then used to synthesize phenol-formaldehyde (LPF) lignin by adding tapioca flour extender with variations of 10%, 20% and 30% of the mass of phenol through the resol method with 50% NaOH catalyst. Then the characterization was carried out using FTIR Spectrophotometer, XRD and adhesive test. The results showed that the LPF copolymer with a 10% extender was better than the LPF copolymer without an extender for wood adhesives with adhesive resistance of 955.34 N and low formaldehyde emission of 0.44 mg/L.

Eco-friendly materials for brake pad- ANSYS overview

Recently, the awareness of green environment has raised in huge manner with comfort for nature to protect environment in terms of wastage accumulation. Among automotive components, most of the vehicles returned as a scrap vehicle so that the wastes extracted and became harmful due to the chemical treatments of materials. The spare parts of independent components are not much disposes with proper treatment. This exhausts effects the environment under wastages. Here, the brake pad having constituents are not supposed to eco-friendly like asbestos and harmful filler materials. The influence of asbestos materials leads negative impact to environment and surrounding creatures and sustainability to ecological transition. The performance of the brakes pads are completely depends on brake pad and its frictional properties. Based on this, the current study performs about prediction on natural eco-friendly materials used as brake pads by focusing on Eco safe composite mixtures. The prediction is done by simulation in ANSYS with the different eco-friendly materials such as palm kernel fiber, Coconut coir, bamboo, banana peels and so on.

Experimental evaluation of the thermal performance of coir mat and green facade as wall insulation in a tropical climate

Passive cooling techniques to minimize the indoor temperature of commercial and residential buildings are of prime importance in research worldwide. A comparison of the potential of coconut coir insulation and green facade to mitigate room heat addition in warm and humid climates prevalent in coastal South India is presented in this paper. Insulation skins like dry coir mat, wet coir mat, green facade, and coir mat with green facade were selected for building walls in the experimental study. The study was conducted during solar hours and non-solar hours on two test cubicles, of which one side wall of the cubicle is made as a reference and the other wall with different insulation. For 24 h, it was found that the dry coir mat had a heat mitigation potential of about 41.45%, whereas the wet coir mat showed 36.3%. Interestingly, it is only 6.15 % for the green facade due to its inefficiency to reject heat during non-solar hours. However, the heat mitigation potential of the green facade can be increased to 40.3% when a coir mat is added. It was also found that the coir mat can reduce heat addition to the wall and reject heat to the ambient due to its porous nature (24.47%).

Tensile Strength of Coconut Coir Fiber Composite as an Alternative Material to Replace Fiberglass in Hard Socket

Physically disabled is someone who has a movement system disorder or has physical abnormalities such as amputation, withering, stiffness, and others. The self-confidence of someone who has an amputee can be improved by having a prosthesis made, because it can replace the anatomical and functional functions of the body. The socket on the prosthesis is the most important component, because the use of the socket on the prosthesis is directly related to the patient's stump. One of the materials for making socket prosthesis is fiberglass. However, the use of fiberglass has a negative effect, namely it produces gas and dust emissions that can irritate stumps, is not a local product, and is difficult to recycle. Alternative fiber materials are using fibers from nature, coco fiber is an option as an alternative to fiberglass. The tensile strength test is the most basic test. The tensile strength test was carried out to determine the stress, strain, and elastic modulus of the fibrous polymer composites. The purpose of this study was to analyze and compare the tensile strength between fiberglass and coconut coir fiber, so as to find out which fiber material is suitable as an alternative to fiberglass in the manufacture of socket prosthesis. Using experimental quantitative methods. The composite material uses coconut coir fiber which was previously treated with 5% NaOH for 1 hour and then dried for 2-3 days. In the fabrication process using the vacuum bag method. Standard specimen refers to ASTM D3039/3039M. Tensile testing showed that the average tensile strength value of the coco fiber composite was 16.2 MPa and the average tensile strength value of the fiberglass composite was 30.2 MPa. This means that the value of the tensile strength of coco fiber is still below fiberglass and cannot be used as a substitute for fiberglass. However, coconut coir fiber can be used as an alternative to fiberglass, judging from the average maximum force that the coco fiber composite can withstand, which is 2630 N or equivalent to a load of 263 kg, this value is sufficient for the average adult weight in Indonesia with an average weight of 60 kg body

Influence of coconut fiber on the microstructural, mechanical and hydraulic behavior of unsaturated compacted soil

This study aimed to evaluate the influence of the addition of coconut (coir) fibers on the microstructural, hydraulic and mechanical behavior of an unsaturated compacted soil. Specimens were molded and compacted, forming composites with 0%, 0.1%, 0.5% and 1% fiber in relation to their dry mass. The characterization of pores from the soil and fiber soil mixtures was performed by the Mercury Intrusion Porosimetry tests. Suction values were obtained through the filter paper method and soil water retention curves were adjusted with the Durner model due to the bimodal behavior. Tensile strength values were obtained from the indirect tensile strength test (Brazilian tensile test) for specimens with different suction values. It was found that the increase in fiber content in the material lead to a non-linear increase in macropores, which affected both the hydraulic and mechanical behavior of the soil. Furthermore, the shape of the soil water retention curve was preserved, but there were changes in the values of first and second air entry and residual suction. The tensile strength was negatively influenced, reaching a reduction of about 30% in the situation with higher fiber content. However, for higher levels, the behavior of the soil changed from brittle to ductile, increasing the supported deformations.

EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE AND EXTRACTION TIME ON YIELD, MOISTURE CONTENT, AND COCONUT COIR METHOXYL PECTIN

This study aims to see the effect of temperature and extraction time on moisture content, yield and methoxyl pectin content of coconut coir. This research was conducted with a factorial experiment in a completely randomized design (CRD), which consisted of two treatments, namely extraction temperature and extraction time with three replications. The results of this study indicate that the extraction temperature greatly affects the pectin yield, water content and methoxyl pectin while the extraction time affects the pectin water content. At a temperature of 70OC and an extraction time of 60 minutes, the highest average yield of pectin was obtained, namely 4.31%, while the lowest average yield of pectin was obtained from the treatment of an extraction temperature of 90OC and an extraction time of 90 minutes. The highest average methoxyl content was obtained from a temperature treatment of 70OC and an extraction time of 30 minutes, while the lowest average percentage of methoxyl content was obtained from a temperature treatment of 90OC extraction and an extraction time of 90 minutes, namely 8.03% and 7.61%, respectively. From the results obtained, it was concluded that the pectin obtained belonged to the pectin group with high methoxyl content, namely >7%. The lowest average percentage of pectin content was obtained at 90OC and 90 minutes of extraction time, namely 10.19%, while the highest was obtained from the treatment of 70OC extraction temperature and 30 minutes of extraction time. From the results of the analysis of water content, it was found that the water content of cocopeat pectin obtained in this study fulfilled the requirements for dry pectin moisture content, namely 10-14%.

The effects of two different biochars on the characteristics of saline acid sulfate soil

AbstractBiochar can be a potential bio‐amendment for remediating saline acid sulfate soil and its effects may be dependent on its properties. The current study sought to assess the effects of two different biochars on the properties and quality of saline acid sulfate soil. The experiment was implemented by mixing soil with biochars made from longan branches (LBs) and coconut coir biochar (CB) at five rates of 0%, 0.7%, 1.5%, 3%, and 6% (w/w). After 100 days of incubation in a greenhouse, soil samples from experimental pots were taken and analyzed for 11 parameters. The results showed that biochar significantly enhanced pH while declining the concentration of SO42− and exchangeable Al and Fe. Mechanisms responsible for these effects could be due to the high alkaline properties of the added biochar. Coconut biochar raised the concentration of exchangeable Na, K, and Mg more strongly than LB. Consequently, coconut biochar greatly increased the soil electrical conductivity (EC) value, while longan biochar exhibited no significant effect. The soil quality index of the 6%‐LB‐added soil increased by 64% and that of the 6%‐CB‐added soil increased by 45%, compared with the zero‐biochar‐added soil. Lower soil quality induced by CB compared with LB may be attributed to CB's initial properties, which had higher EC, Cl−, and Na levels than LB. The findings suggested that biochar addition can improve overall quality but alter individual properties of saline acid sulfate soil in different directions, depending on the properties of the added biochar, which requires more studies to clarify its ameliorative effects.

Improving the Quality of Lunar Regolith Simulant Soil for Future Food Security

This research explores the possibilities of using lunar soil resources in agriculture. The effectiveness of humic micro-encapsulated was investigated for physical and chemical quality improvement for lunar culture applications by using TLS-01 (Thailand artificial lunar regolith Simulant-01) as a test substance. Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) was used as the test plant. TLS-01 particles were evenly distributed, uncluttered, and consisted of 54.55% polygons and 45.45% rods, without having high water-holding capacity. The plants were grown in TLS-01, but their physical characteristics were unacceptable. Sunflower seedlings grown in TLS-01 soil showed a lower percentage of germination, and root and stem length compared to those grown in commercial planting material. After an improvement in physical properties and nutrients, from the study of the relationship between the soil used in the trial for planting and the humic acid concentration, no interaction between soil and humic acid was found. Therefore, while the soil types were significantly different, the humic was not. The results showed that a 1:1 mixture of TLS-01: coconut coir with the addition of 2 times the recommended dose of humic acid could enhance sunflower seedling relative to commercial planting material (p≤0.05). The germination percentage and growth indexes were 85.00% and 6.62, respectively. However, in order to stimulate actual usage for interplanetary application, coconut fiber-like materials and the humic substances were applied as in microcapsules. Additionally, the humic release test showed that after 6 h, the release of humic substance by Fickian diffusion was 73.45% and it then slowed down. The encapsulation efficiency was 90.37%.

Production of biopolymer polyhydroxybutyrate from coconut coir hydrolysate: Characterization and optimization study

AbstractPolyhydroxybutyrates (PHBs) are produced by microorganisms. PHBs are chosen as biodegradable plastic alternatives due to their rapid degradability under natural circumstances. In this study, the isolation and identification of PHB‐producing organisms by Sudan black, fermentation, solvent extraction, and characterization of purified PHB are all discussed in detail. Serratia sp. was employed to produce PHB biopolymer from lignocellulose waste coconut coir and a response surface software tool was used to optimize it. PHB characterization, FTIR (1730 cm−1 C = O stretch), TGA (268.53°C), and DTA (276.67°C) results. Sudan Black B stain was employed for the pre‐screening of these vital bacteria that produced intracellular granules of PHB. The best optimized parameters are used during the fermentation process, including 20 g/L coconut coir hydrolysate, pH 7, 30°C temperature, 1.5 g/L peptone, and 48 h. The optimization of the response surface methodology yields a high biomass output of 9.34 g/L, PHB yield of 5.48 g/L, and dry cell weight of 58.67%. The ANOVA findings, F and R2 value of biomass (10.04 and 0.9036) and PHB (23.33 and 0.9561). The results show that employing coconut coir as a feedstock allows for the enhanced production of PHB.