Coconut-Based Charcoal Briquette: Its Innovation Towards Community Diffusion

In recent years, interest in converting agricultural residues into energy has increased due to rising demand for cleaner, safer domestic fuels. The study sought to assess the coconut shell charcoal briquettes made out of the existing waste products such as coconut shells and husks which serve as an alternative source of biomass fuel, using Sustainable Development Theory, Circular Economy, Biomass Energy Theory guided by Paris Agreement (2015); Renewable Energy Act of 2008 (RA 9513) and Ecological Solid Waste Management Act and (2000) RA 9003. Coconut residues were carbonized to produce charcoal, which was ground into charcoal fines and then formed into briquettes using different mixing formulas to determine how the mixing formula affects mechanical integrity, heat production, and combustion rate. Through the study, we found that mixtures with a higher binder ratio were more durable and had better resistance to crumbling during storage or transportation. Moreover, during combustion testing, we found that the briquettes provided an average of 300–400 kJ/kg, exhibited steady burning behavior, and produced very little ash. To sum up, coconut shell charcoal briquettes not only exhibited good strength and combustion characteristics but also proved to be an eco-friendly fuel suitable for waste recycling and renewable energy use in communities that produce coconuts.