Coconut Husk Fiber Research Articles

IMPROVEMENT OF GEOTECHNICAL PROPERTIES OF A COIR REINFORCED LATERITE

Laterites used mostly for construction in the tropics can sometimes be problematic due to insufficient geotechnical properties. This explores the potential benefits of incorporating coir reinforcement into laterite. Coir, derived from coconut husk fibers is a sustainable, renewable and abundant resource that has high tensile strength, low density, and good resistance to decay. Geotechnical properties such as Liquid limit (LL), Plastic limit, Plasticity index, Maximum dry density, Optimum moisture content (OMC) and California bearing ratio (CBR) of the laterite were determined before reinforcement. The coir was cut into different lengths (3 to 5 cm) and added to the laterite at different percentages (0.25 to 1.5% at 0.25% increment). The geotechnical properties of the reinforced soil were determined and the results were analyzed using analysis of variance and fuzzy logic. The CBR of the reinforced soil was predicted using fiber content, OMC, and LL The precision of the fuzzy logic model was obtained by comparing the model results with the actual experimental results. Addition of fiber at 0.25% was found to be the optimum as it increased the CBR of the soil by 27.24% and reduced the Liquid limit by 15.47%. The fuzzy logic prediction has a RMSE of 1.18, MAPE of 4.68% and R-squared of 0.98 which shows that the fuzzy logic model is satisfactory. The study concluded that coir is a potential reinforcement for improving the geotechnical properties of laterite and that Fuzzy Logic can be used to predict the CBR of coir reinforced laterite.

Monocomponent Biosorption of Copper Ions (II) onto Nanocrystalline Cellulose from Coconut Husk Fibers

Introduction: Nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) is one of the most suitable cellulose derivatives for the treatment of wastewater. Various agricultural wastes have been used for the extraction of NCC. Coconut wastes have been widely studied as potential adsorbents for the removal of pollutants, including dyes and heavy metals. Methods: In this work, nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) was successfully isolated from coconut husk fibers through alkaline pretreatment accompanied by sulfuric acid hydrolysis. Then, the ability of NCC to adsorb Cu2+ from aqueous solution in batch studies was investigated. Results: Results indicated that the optimal hydrolysis parameters were achieved at 50° C for 45 min with 64% sulfuric acid to extract NCC as rod-like particles with diameters between 4-10 nm. The potential of NCC as a biosorbent to remove copper ions (Cu2+) from aqueous solution was investigated in terms of batch mode and maximum adsorption capacity (qm) of 79.491 mg/g of Cu2+. The adsorption efficiency of Cu2+ions increased with an increase in the adsorbent dosage, decreased with an increase in the initial concentration of contaminant, and increased with the contact time. Under optimal conditions, adsorption kinetic followed a pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the adsorption isotherm fitted most closely with the Langmuir model. Conclusion: According to a literature review, NCC from coconut husk fibers has not been used for the adsorption of heavy metals, mainly copper ions. This study shows that NCC from coconut husk fibers can be used as a low-cost and environmentally friendly adsorbent for the removal of Cu2+ from aqueous solutions.

Development of thermal insulation material using coconut and kenaf fiber for heat recovery enhancement

Abstract In line with the world’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), Malaysia aims to have a clean future energy. The main problem facing the energy revolution is the low conversion efficiency of low-grade heat to useful energy. During the process, a significant fraction of thermal energy is generally lost to the environment as waste heat. Waste heat accounts for 20-50% of industrial energy use, with Southeast Asia processing 40 million tonnes of oil equivalent. Heat losses especially in engines can reduce efficiency, leading to extensive studies to reduce heat loss and improve thermal performance. Heat recovery systems are being studied to recover lower-grade energy, but to the extent of the authors’ knowledge, the majority of them are not economically effective for low temperature waste heat. Therefore, the objectives of this study are to develop low thermal conductivity material for thermal insulators based on natural fibre and investigate their impact on thermal performance. The natural fibre-based materials that were chosen in this study are coconut husk and kenaf fibre due to their supposedly low thermal conductivity level and availability in the Southeast Asia region. The specimens were prepared using two different methods; the first two specimens using needle felting method and for the other two specimens epoxy resin was reinforced to bind the material together to become a polymer. The results revealed that coconut husk fibre reinforced with resin has the lowest thermal conductivity value among the four specimens with 0.0410 W/m.K and the lowest overall heat transfer coefficient of 2.73 W/m2.K, making it a possible thermal insulator to be proposed for heat recovery.

Eco-Friendly Production of Decorative Concrete Blocks Using Coal Fly Ash and Coconut Husk Fiber Admixtures: Mixture D-Optimal Design Optimization

Eco-Friendly Production of Decorative Concrete Blocks Using Coal Fly Ash and Coconut Husk Fiber Admixtures: Mixture D-Optimal Design Optimization

Mechanical Properties of Thermoplastic Cassava Starch/Coconut Fibre Composites: Effect of Fibre Size

This research aims to study the thermal and mechanical properties of biodegradable thermoplastic cassava starch (TPCS) reinforced with various sizes of coconut husk fibre (CHF). The range of fibre sizes used was 125, 200, and 300 μm. These CHFs were integrated into a thermoplastic cassava starch matrix to make bio-composites. After integrating all components, the bio-composites were hot-pressed at 155°C for 60 minutes to produce thermoplastic sheets. Tensile and flexural tests were carried out to examine the mechanical characteristics of TPCS/CHF composites. The samples were also characterised using Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The findings demonstrated that a smaller 125 μm CHF improved the mechanical properties higher than other fibre sizes. Fibre with 300 μm showed more voids, which led to lower material strength. TGA results showed that 300 μm fibres enhanced the crystallinity and thermal stability of the material. FTIR and TGA showed that CHF incorporation increased intermolecular interactions and thermal stability. Overall, a smaller fibre size of 125 μm showed a better reinforcement effect than the larger fibre sizes, which enhanced the materials’ tensile and flexural properties. This study demonstrated that modified TPCS/CHF has shown enhanced functionality than neat TPCS.

Thermal Performance Study on Coconut Husk and Kenaf Fibre as Thermal Insulation Materials

Thermal Performance Study on Coconut Husk and Kenaf Fibre as Thermal Insulation Materials

Influence of Alkali Treatment on Bamboo/Coconut Husk Hybrid Fibre Polyester Composite

This research addresses the importance of hybrid composites in material science, specifically, demonstrating the effective reinforcement of unsaturated polyester with bamboo and coconut husk fibre through alkali treatment. The primary problem this work aims to solve is the improvement of the mechanical properties of unsaturated polyester by combining it with bamboo and coconut husk fibres which contain both lignocellulosic and cellulose fibres. Alkali treatment, particularly, sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution, was used in this study due to its cost-effective nature and its ability to enhance the strength of both individual fibres and resulting composite. The effect of NaOH treatment with concentrations ranging from 2 – 10 wt.% on dried hybrid fibres was investigated. Chemically treated fibre composites were discovered to have improved mechanical characteristics as both tensile tests and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed higher strength and thermal stability after being treated. Notably, findings identified an optimal content of 8 wt.% NaOH solution for surface modification, showcasing the potential for using NaOH-treated waste fibres to reinforce polyester resin. The implications of this study extend to a promising avenue for enhancing the performance and application of natural fibre-reinforced composites. The insights provided here offer a foundation for advancing the utilization of hybrid composites.

Green building adaptation in hot-humid climates: assessment of coconut and corn husk fiber composite bricks as energy-efficient building envelopes

PurposeThis study has assessed the thermal performance of locally fabricated bio-based building envelopes made of coconut and corn husk composite bricks to reduce building wall heat transmission load and energy consumption towards green building adaptation.Design/methodology/approachSamples of coconut fiber (coir) and corn husk fiber bricks were fabricated and tested for their thermophysical properties using the Transient Plane Source (TPS) 2500s instrument. A simulation was conducted using Dynamic Energy Response of Building - Lunds Tekniska Hogskola (DEROB-LTH) to determine indoor temperature variation over 24 h. The time lag and decrement factor, two important parameters in evaluating building envelopes, were also determined.FindingsThe time lag of the bio-based composite building envelope was found to be in the range of 4.2–4.6 h for 100 mm thickness block and 10.64–11.5 h for 200 mm thickness block. The decrement factor was also determined to be in the range of 0.87–0.88. The bio-based composite building envelopes were able to maintain the indoor temperature of the model from 25.4 to 27.4 °C, providing a closely stable indoor thermal comfort despite varying outdoor temperatures. The temperature variation in 24 h, was very stable for about 8 h before a degree increment, providing a comfortable indoor temperature for occupants and the need not to rely on air conditions and other mechanical forms of cooling. Potential energy savings also peaked at 529.14 kWh per year.Practical implicationsThe findings of this study present opportunities to building developers and engineers in terms of selecting vernacular materials for building envelopes towards green building adaptation, energy savings, reduced construction costs and job creation.Originality/valueThis study presents for the first time, time lag and decrement factor for bio-based composite building envelopes for green building adaptation in hot climates, as found in Ghana.

Experimental and simulation study on active vibration control of rotating machines using coconut-husk fiber composite

Vibrations may reduce the quality of products because of “chatter” during drilling operation, which may cause dimensional inaccuracy of drilled holes, poor surface finish, assembly, and operational problems. This therefore calls for the need for vibration absorbers or dampers. The drilling machine considered in this research was the MODIGS RBM 28B Radial Arm Drill. The vibrations during drilling operation of this machine were measured with the use of a Vibration Meter. This experiment was carried out on different metal workpieces which vary in their toughness and hardness; hence, the drilling machine was expected to vibrate with different amplitudes and frequency for these different metals. In this experiment, Coconut Fibre was successfully simulated. The success was measured from how much of displacement the simulated coconut fiber composite absorbed and dampen down, keeping the machine to work at its optimum performance without excessive vibration, which normally could result to failure of machine components poor surface finish, and dimensional inaccuracy of holes.

Surfactant modified coconut husk fiber as a green alternative sorbent for micro-solid phase extraction of triazole fungicides at trace level in environmental water, soybean milk, fruit juice and alcoholic beverage samples.

In this work, micro-solid phase extraction using surfactant modified biosorbent was investigated for trace level determination of triazole fungicides prior to their analysis by high performance liquid chromatography. Coconut husk fiber (CHF) was selected as an effective biosorbent in the extraction process. Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy methods were used to characterize the modified biosorbent. Various factors affecting the extraction efficiency of the proposed method were studied including the amount of coconut husk fiber biosorbent (0.1 g), kind and concentration of surfactant as a modifier (sodium dodecyl sulfate, 10 mmol L-1), kind and volume of desorption solvent (methanol, 150 μL), and extraction period (including vortex adsorption time, centrifugation adsorption time, vortex desorption time and centrifugation adsorption time approximately 10 min). Under the selected conditions, the calibration plot was found to be linear in the range of 9-300 μg L-1 with a coefficient for determination of greater than 0.99. The limits of detection and limits of quantification for the studied triazole fungicides were 3.00 and 9.00 μg L-1, respectively. Finally, the proposed method was successfully applied to determine triazole fungicides in environmental water, soybean milk, fruit juice and alcoholic beverage samples with acceptable recoveries obtained in the range of 67.0% to 105.0%.

Effect of Lateritic Stone Aggregate and Coconut Husk Fiber on the Properties of Concrete

Effect of Lateritic Stone Aggregate and Coconut Husk Fiber on the Properties of Concrete

Domestic Wastewater Treatment Using Natural Filtration and Solar Distillation Processes

Fresh water is most important daily requirement for human survival. On one hand many regions/countries are facing challenges related to availability of potable water for drinking and daily needs, on other hand water is wasted daily from different domestic applications. Processing and reuse of domestic waste water can help bridge gap between demand and supply. Present study describes a domestic waste water treatment process using combined natural filtration and solar distillation methods. In natural filtration process husk fibre, activated carbon and coconut husk fibre were used as filters. For solar distillation a pyramid shaped distillation unit is used. The samples of domestic waste water were collected from laundry, kitchen and house cleaning applications. The pH, TDS (total dissolved solids) and DO (dissolved oxygen) values of domestic waste water samples and water after treatment were tested. The results after treatment reveal that the values of TDS, pH, and dissolved oxygen are close to the standard values required for potable water which can be further used in different applications.

GERMINATION AND SURVIVAL OF Nidularium innocentii Lem. (BROMELIACEAE), ORNAMENTAL BROMELIAD ON LOW-COST SUBSTRATES FOR CULTIVATION: AN ALTERNATIVE TO EXTRATIVISM

The extractivism of bromeliads in Paraná for ornamental purposes has been occurring since the 70's, due to the easy access in the forests, the high demand of consumers, and the small number of producers in the region. Among the species of this group stands out Nidularium innocentii Lem. as the second most extracted species with commercial purpose. The reversal of this situation may be associated with the implantation of agronomic crops, but there are few and sparse studies on the germination of this species. Thus, in this context a study was carried out in order to evaluate seed germination and survival on different substrates. Six alternative types of substrates that were easily accessible to the rural producer were tested: peat, coconut husk fiber, plantmax®, earthworm humus, humid pine bark and sieved agricultural soil. The experiment was carried out in a completely randomized design, with four replicates and 25 seeds per experimental unit, at room temperature, in a greenhouse, with sprinkler irrigation for a period of 90 days. Nidularium inocentii showed germination on average at 7 days and maximum germination point was reached at 15.2 days, with an average of 65.8% of germination. Among the substrates tested, coconut husk fiber, peat and humid pine bark obtained the best results on seedling survival after seed germination. The study confirms the feasibility of sexual reproduction of the species for agronomic crops using low cost and locally abundant substrates.

Development and evaluation of agro-waste composite for sound insulation

The palm kernel shell is a by-product of palm kernel oil production and is commonly used in the natural biomass energy industry. Coconut husk fibre is extracted from the coconut fruit. To find a use for palm kernel shells and coconut husk fibre, a composite insulator plate was developed by the addition of a binder through a process of grinding, sieving, mixing, heating, hot-pressing and cooling in a mould. An Ahuja speaker AU60 was fixed at one end of a baffled tube and a sound level meter was placed 2 m away from the output to record sound transmission loss at 5s intervals for twenty minutes. The plates of 3, 4, 5, and, 6 mm thickness were fixed in the baffled tube at a distance of 475 mm away from the input one after the other to filter the input sound. The results showed that the setup without a composite insulator recorded the highest noise of 226.8 dB. The average recorded sound transmitted loss was 185.40, 72.47, 74.54, 76.06, and 82.85 dB for no insulator, 3, 4, 5 and, 6 mm composite insulators respectively. The introduction of the 3, 4, 5, and, 6 mm thickness composite insulators resulted in 55.3 %, 59.0 %, 59.8 % and 60.9 % reduction in noise level. The application of agro-waste composite material as a sound insulator in a baffled tube has proven to be effective by 58.7 % on average. The study has confirmed that agro-waste materials can be used in sound insulation applications.

Environmental Properties of Coconut Fiber/Reinforced Thermoplastic Starch/Beeswax Hybrid Composites

The creation of degradable biocomposites is anticipated to alleviate the challenges of worldwide environmental contamination and resource exhaustion. The study investigates the effect of coconut fiber on the environmental properties and water affinity behavior of thermoplastic starch/beeswax composite. The biocomposites were fabricated by incorporating the coconut husk fiber range from 10 to 50 wt%. The thermoplastic starch contains cassava starch, glycerol, and beeswax. The modification of the mixture became efficient when the mixing was determined to be stronger when used as a high-pace blender to aid the mixing process. The mixture then underwent a hot compression molding method to form the mixture into the desired sample form. We can conclude from the results that samples with high fiber content absorb less water than those with no fiber content. For moisture absorption, when the fiber content increases, the ability of the fiber to moisture absorption is decreased. The thickness swelling results show that the sample shows less swelling as the fiber percentage increases. For the soil burial test, incorporating 50 wt% coconut fiber decreases the weight reduction for 4 weeks. For the water solubility test, the solubility of 50 wt% is the best. Based on the findings, integrating coconut fiber into the modified thermoplastic cassava starch increases the composite properties relative to the non-reinforcement matrix material starch.

Elucidation of Microstructural and Mechanical Properties of Coconut Husk Mortar as a Sustainable Building Material for Ferrocement

The main objective of this study is to use coconut husk to produce mortar for ferrocement. Mortar mix proportions are selected per ACI codes’ recommendation and the WRD Handbook. Four types of mortars: Cement and River Sand mortar (CSM), Cement, River Sand and Steel fibre mortar (CSSFM), Cement and Coconut Husk mortar (CCHM), and Cement, River Sand (60%), Coconut Husk (40%), and Steel fibre mortar (CSCHSFM) are used for this study Microstructural studies like SEM, EDX, XRD, and FTIR analysis on cement mortar constituents and mortar mixes are studied and reported. At 3, 7, and 28 days tests of hardened mortar, such as compressive, split tensile, flexural strength, and impact strength resistance, were studied. Test results revealed that the coconut husk is innovative and sustainable and could be an alternative fine aggregate that can be utilized in place of river sand, which in turn can be used for mortar production. Since it has a lesser density which proves to be an advantage for developing lightweight mortar, it can be used for ferrocement applications.

Thermomechanical Analyses of Alkali-Treated Coconut Husk-Bagasse Fiber-Calcium Carbonate Hybrid Composites

Natural fiber-reinforced composites can contribute to reducing carbon footprint goals due to their ability to reduce overall product weight, bio-diverse feedstocks, and recyclability potential. In this work, natural fiber-based composites containing the reinforcement of coconut husk and bagasse fiber with calcium carbonate (CaCO3) ingredients were prepared and analyzed. The composites were analyzed for mechanical, thermomechanical, and morphological properties. The reinforcements were chemically functionalized using 5% w/v NaOH to enhance their interactions with the epoxy resins. The chemical functionalization created perforation on the fiber surface, improving the interlocking of fibres with the resin material and strengthening the mechanical performance of the composite. The composites developed using modified reinforcement treatment resulted in increased tensile strength (64.8%) and flexural strength (70%). The reinforcement treatment influenced the hydrophilicity, and the water absorption of treated composites was reduced more than five times compared to the unmodified composites. Scanning electron microscopy revealed morphological changes due to fiber modification, the underlaying mechanism of fiber contraction, and enhanced fiber matrix interface interlocking and adhesion strengthening. Thermal analysis confirmed that alkali treatment improves the crystallinity of the fiber and thereto the degradation temperature of treated fiber composites (both bagasse and coconut husk), which is 375.27 °C, the highest amongst the developed hybrid composites.

ARANG AKTIF SERAT SABUT KELAPA DAN APLIKASINYA SEBAGAI ADSORBEN ION KROMIUM(III) DARI LARUTAN AIR

The coconut husk contains high cellulose, so it can be processed as a basic materials to make activated charcoal. The purpose of the study was to make activated charcoal from coconut husk fiber with hydrochloric acid activator and to determine the effect of changing coconut husk fiber into charcoal, as well as activation of the adsorption power of Cr(III) metal ions from solution. The research started by separating the coconut husk fiber, carbonization at various temperatures. The resulting charcoal was characterized according to SNI 06-3730-1995. The best quality charcoal was activated with HCl, then coconut husk fiber, unactivated and activated charcoals were applied to absorb Cr(III) ions. Optimization of adsorption parameters such as contact time, solution pH, temperature and adsorption isotherm were also studied. The results showed that the optimum carbonization temperature was 600oC, contact time was 5 hours, optimum pH was 6, room temperature. The adsorption capacity of Cr(III) ions were 8.2580 mg/g, 13.5645 mg/g and 16.1452 mg/g for coconut husk fiber, unactivated and activated charcoal, respectively. The increase in adsorption power from coconut husk fiber to charcoal was 64.36% and from charcoal to activated charcoal increased by 19.02%. Coconut husk fiber and unactivated charcoal followed the Langmuir isotherm while activated charcoal followed Freundlich.

From biomass to eco-friendly composites: polyurethanes based on cashew nutshell liquid reinforced with coconut husk fiber

From biomass to eco-friendly composites: polyurethanes based on cashew nutshell liquid reinforced with coconut husk fiber

IN NATURA AND CARBONIZED COCONUT FIBER CHARACTERIZATION FROM PYROLYSIS PROCESS

This work aims to verify the possibility of valuing coconut husk fiber through pyrolysis for the production of carbonized, and evaluate the influence of the pyrolysis conditions in its potential to use as a soil conditioner. Biomass were pyrolyzed used the peak temperatures of 350, 450 and 550 °C, with immersion time of 30 minutes. The characterization included analyses of bulk density, proximate analyses, X-RF, total carbon, pH, electrical conductivity, thermal analysis of biomass and cation exchange capacity in carbonized. The results indicate that the fiber has relevant properties for thermochemical conversion and the pyrolysis temperature influenced the characteristics of the carbonized. The X-RF showed that the carbonized presents K, Cl, Ca, Na and Mg content in its composition. The pH proved to be alkaline for the carbonized. It was possible to conclude that the carbonized produced have viable characteristics for its application as a soil conditioner.