ASCOT Research International Journal, Volume 3, December 2010

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Charcoal Briquetting Technology in the Province of Aurora, Philippines Daiwey, A. S., Rotaquio, E. Jr. L., Angara, E. V.

Aurora State College of Technology

Zabali, Baler 3200, Aurora, Philippines

ABSTRACT Denuded forests and abandoned biomass characterized much of the

Philippine land mass. Aiming to find a solution on how to solve this problem,

various strategies and methodologies have been undertaken including information

education campaign, promulgation /circulation of laws, policies and regulations

yet exploitation of Mother Nature still exist.

Our generation today is a generation of innovation; everything is new– the

gadgets, facilities, machineries and technologies. As a matter of fact what is new

today is obsolete tomorrow, thus, scientists and researchers are passionately

formulating and inventing various kind of devices trying to discover a technology

that could best compete with the system and activities of today’s generation. One

positive result of this invention is the modern Briquetting Machineries used for

charcoal production. This is a series of machines that can produce charcoal out of

abandoned cellulosic biomass as primary materials instead of wood. This was

designed wittingly to solve problems pertaining the unceasing cutting of trees and

the profusion of wastes that build-up pollution problems. Cutting of trees is one of

the most threatening upland activities that led to forest depletion while bulks of

abandoned agricultural and other cellulosic wastes materials found everywhere

secretes excessive gas emission in the atmosphere that heighten the concentration

of ozone layers which make human suffering due to related environmental

consequences such as; massive soil erosion, loss of biodiversity, flash floods, and

soil fertility depletion that apparently turned into climate change.

This technology controls further the advance depletion of natural forest by

preventing the continuous cutting of trees while cleaning the environment through

conversion of abandoned biomass into briquettes which at the same time serves as

an additional source of income for unfortunate rural/urban communities,

particularly the upland farmers and coastal dwellers.

INTRODUCTION Since time immemorial, natural coconut shell and wood charcoal has been

the major fuel energy used for char-grill and any type of cooking in the

Philippines particularly in the province of Aurora because of price affordability

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and availability in the market. It is true that patronizing commercial energy (LPG)

is an easy way for cooking and an indicator of better or quality life. Nevertheless,

it may create a lot of problems and the most probable harmful effect is climate

changes that affect human health conditions.

As we all know, the fossil fuel era of nonrenewable resources now a day is

gradually coming to an end, oil will be the first to be depleted, followed by

natural gas and coal. Energy problem then is very serious and the main objective

now is to find solution on how to balance the supply and demand of energy

sources. Therefore the need for conserving energy and developing alternative

energy is a must. Biomass, as we can see, is abundantly available in the

urban/rural regions and the only things we should do to make it useful is to utilize

it properly through conversion into charcoal briquettes.

Thus, the modern equipment of charcoal briquetting technology that can

solve problems on traditional wood charcoal production was recommended. This

enhances the knowledge of urban/rural communities regarding the modern way of

charcoal making while preserving and protecting natural forests

Furthermore, this technology aims to promote the diversified charcoal

briquettes and other products extracted from abandoned biomass. A set of

charcoal briquetting Machine is required to come up with a uniform size and

figure of charcoal briquettes. This extruder machine has the capacity of pressing

300kg/day or more depending on the operator’s conditioning energy. The 30 kg

of raw coconut husks materials using drum method has 10 percent recovery while

the carbonized soft materials using fast carbonizer has a natural recovery of 30

percent.

In so doing, charcoal briquetting production generates livelihood

opportunities for unfortunate upland farmers and coastal dwellers since laborer

does not requires diploma or professional license nor skilled workers either. The

products can be sold here and abroad with reasonable price for household and

industrial consumption. Charcoals produced from cellulosic wastes materials are

simply environment-friendly, economically and socially acceptable because of its

exemplified characteristics. Converting briquettes as household energy cannot just

helps mitigate emission of methane, carbon dioxide and other green house gas

molecules in the atmosphere but also sought to reduce impact of deforestation as

we replace the traditional charcoal making which necessitates cutting of trees that

causes depletion of country’s forest resources. Nevertheless, the so-called

briquettes can be more effective when appropriate stove be used.

ASCOT Research International Journal, Volume 3, December 2010

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Charcoal Briquette is the agglomeration of ground particles with

alimentary binder, derived from either animal manure, vegetation substance or

other abandoned cellulosic biomass usually produced with slow pyrolysis1.

Charcoal production begun during the metallurgy development about

5,000 years ago and played an important role all throughout Bronze Age and Iron

Age, approximately 3,000BC and 1,200BC respectively2. It happens after it was

discovered that the heat calorific value of plain firewood does not meet the metals

thawing temperature requirements because of the volatile and water released

during combustion. Unlike charcoal burning heat which ranges more than

1,000°F, enough degrees of temperatures needed for iron work production.

As centuries and centuries have gone, charcoal was diversified until the

development of a new mixture named Briquettes. The history of original charcoal

briquettes began when Ellsworth B.A. Zwoyer of Pennsylvania applied for a

patent in 1897. Nonetheless, Henry Ford helped popularized its uses in 1920’s3 as

he used left-over sawdust and glue for his assembled automobile. After World

War I, Zwoyer and his son Paul started the Zwoyer Fuel Company, which built

charcoal briquette manufacturing plants in Buffalo, NY, and Fall River, MA. In

1927, he acquired two more briquette patents for “Briquetting Method” and a

“Method of Carbonizing Fuel Briquettes.”

In the Philippines, particularly in the province of Aurora, illegal cutting of

trees is rampant due to the following purposes such as; merchandizing, house

construction, kaingin making and/or charcoal production. Traditional wood

charcoal production process requires digging of holes to bury chopped trees then

cover either with clay or sand then finally make a fire beneath the hole. The wood

charcoal that was baked was gathered and put inside the sacks carried it home and

1 Pyrolysis is the chemical decomposition of condensed substances that occurs spontaneously at high

enoughtemperatures. The word is coined from the Greek-derived elements pyr "fire" and lysis "loosening". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charcoal, April 2010.

2 According to Peter J. F. Harris (Department of Chemistry at the University of Reading in the U.K), as early as

30,000 BC, charcoal was used as art materials. First discovery of charcoal was probably in the aftermath of wildfire

coming from lighting strike. A tree catches fire, falls down, gets partially buried and oxygen deprived, and then smoldering fire transforms the wood into charcoal. A synthesis taken from the wed site of

http://virtualweberbullet.com/charcoal.html#factors, modified last June 2010. 3 It is not clear as to how Zwoyer came upon the idea of a briquette. But by the end of World War I, the Zwoyer

Fuel Company had begun construction of charcoal briquette plants around the US. One of the earliest plants was set up in

Buffalo, New York. However it was Henry Ford (with some help from Thomas Edison) who put the briquettes to practical

use in 1920. His briquettes were constructed from the wood debris and sawdust in his automobile factory. It just happened that Kingsford was Ford’s brother in law. Ford agreed to focus on the auto industry. Kingsford would get in the business of

selling charcoal. Kingsford Company would change its name to Kingsford Charcoal.http://www.whoinventedit.net/who-

invented-charcoal-briquettes.html, April 24, 2008.

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then collect the fine charcoal residue that had been accumulated at the bottom of

sacks, mixed with clay to form a briquettes. This mixture was first used by

toddlers while playing, putting a small amount of carbon and rolled it over on

their palms to come up with various images then dried them under the sun until its

beneficial uses was accidentally discovered when burned up. At first, they called

this as “charcoal crush” but were changed into “tiny coal” after several years.

Now, it was called charcoal briquettes when manufacturing process has changed

dramatically due to the appearance of new industrial technologies.

Selling of Charcoal Briquette in the Philippines was made by Kamado4

Company since 2003 with different label. The first type was sold intermittently in

2003-2005 and was labeled "Product of the Philippines." Second type of these

briquettes which was labeled "Product of Thailand" was sold in 2006. Selling of

third type briquettes labeled with "Product of Indonesia" was happened in 2007,

and finally, late year of 2007 when they sold their "Try-It-Yourself" charcoal on

eBay, with no country of origin identified. Each of the new offerings was

decidedly inferior.5

Year 2009, modern Charcoal Briquetting Technology was introduced in the

province through the initiative effort of Senator J. Angara, funded by the

Department of Environment and Natural Resources Office and implemented by

the Aurora State College of Technology through the Research Department. Thus,

People’s Organization Based in Baler received a one unit of this briquetting

machines and now enjoying the benefits brought by his technology.

4 “Kamado” is a traditional Japanese wood or charcoal fired earthen vessel used as a stove or oven. They are

often marketed as barbecues for outdoor use. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamado, 7 April 2010 at 12:46. Kamado’s

appeal got the attention of Americans after World War II and carried a sample of it in an empty transport planes when US Air Force servicemen bring back from Japan, a synthesis taken from the website

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Big_Green_Egg, 17 June 2010. The Big Green Egg is the brand name of kamado because of the origins of the basic design that lie in southern Japan. The Big Green Egg Company was founded in 1974 by Ed

Fisher and is based in Tucker, Georgia, USA (Late 1960’s, manufacturing started in the America- production takes place in

Mexico). 5 Here's a short summary of each review as taken from the article of 2009 Review of Kamado Coconut briquettes at

website http://www.nakedwhiz.com/lumpdatabase/lumpbag92.htm, August 2009.

1. The Philippine charcoal was a great product, low on ash, long on burn time, hard durable briquettes that survived

shipping abuse and burned with the characteristic sweet coconut smell. 2. The Thailand charcoal produced large volumes of ash, and much of it arrived at customers' doorsteps damp, moldy

and crumbled.

3. The Indonesian charcoal produced the largest volume of ash we had ever tested to that point, burned for a very short time, and the briquettes were fragile and subject to shipping damage.

4. The 2007 "Try-It-Yourself" eBay charcoal had the shortest burn time and highest ash production we had ever seen

in any charcoal up to that point. It was also fragile and subject to shipping damage.

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The project is intended to educate the charcoal makers of Aurora

province with regards to the modern technology of charcoal production using

abandoned plant-based materials through conversion into charcoal briquettes not

only to clean the scattered biomass but to lessen the impact of cutting trees that

causes forest denudation.

Charcoal Briquettes produced from abandoned cellulosic wastes such as

coconut husks/shell, rise hull/straw, saw dusts, grasses, twigs and so on and so

forth has great contribution in solving national issues due to its exemplified

characteristics as described as follows: 1) Charcoal Briquette produced is a

smokeless fuel, 2) Converting agricultural wastes into charcoal briquettes can be

of great help to assist the government in their clean and green drive program that

promote tourism because of the attractive environment condition, 3) Expansion of

deforestation will be prevented since cutting of trees as primary materials for

wood charcoal making are eliminated, 4)Charcoal briquette is viewed as an

advantage fuel because of its clean-burning nature plus the fact that in can be

stored for a longer period of time without degradation. Thus, generates livelihood

opportunities because interested Micro-entrepreneur can be organized for this

product and lastly, 5) Shifting to charcoal briquettes can save government’s

saving. The wealth of individual entrepreneurs will increase while the nation in

general can save dollars intended for importing Liquefied Petroleum Gas as

energy consumption. This project aims to:

1. To promote charcoal briquettes and other profitable products from

abandoned cellulosic wastes materials.

2. To determine charcoal briquetting procedure.

3. To generate other alternative livelihood opportunities for

unfortunate rural upland farmers and coastal dwellers.

METHODOLOGY

1 Promotion of charcoal briquettes and other profitable products from

abandoned cellulosic wastes materials.

Since time immemorial, natural wood and coconut shell charcoal has been

the major fuel energy used for char-grill and any type of cooking in the

Philippines primarily because of the price is economically reasonable and always

available in the local market. Nonetheless, using such charcoal has consequences

on human’s health and the environment as a whole since cutting of trees are

required for wood charcoal production that causes forest depletion. Thus, shifting

ASCOT Research International Journal, Volume 3, December 2010

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of traditional way of charcoal making into a modern technology of briquettes

production are highly recommended because it will not just experience its

beneficial effect but rather preserve the natural beauty of nature for the next

generation.

As we all know, the fossil fuel era of nonrenewable resources now a day is

gradually coming to an end, oil will be first to be depleted, followed by natural

gas and coal. The energy problems then become serious and the most important

objective now is to find a solution on how to balance the demand and supply of

energy sources. Therefore the need for conserving energy and developing

alternative energy is a must. Biomass, as we can see, is abundantly available

everywhere - both in the urban/rural regions. The only things we should do to

make it useful are to utilize it properly through conversion into briquettes, mainly

for cooking food purposes. Thus, the modern equipment in the new millennium

that can solve problems on the traditional wood charcoal production known as

Charcoal Briquetting Technology was highly recommended in order to enhance

the knowledge of urban/rural communities regarding the modern way of charcoal

making while protecting natural forests.

This technology aims to promote the diversified charcoal briquettes and

other products extracted from abandoned biomass. This can be done using a set of

charcoal briquetting machines to come up with a uniform size of charcoal

briquettes. This extruder machine has the capacity of pressing 300kg/day or more

depending on the operator’s conditioning energy. The 30 kg of raw coconut

husks materials using drum method has 10 percent recovery while the carbonized

soft materials using fast carbonizer has a natural recovery of 30 percent.

Moreover, different sizes and figures of briquettes can be made possible using

different types of briquettor. The other profitable products that could be extracted

from abandoned agricultural wastes were Liquid Smoke - the good alternative

medicine, fertilizer and insecticide.

Promoting charcoal briquettes and other profitable products from

abandoned cellulosic wastes materials will be made possible through intensive

information education campaign especially in doing mass media appearance like

television and radio interviews/commercials. Seminar or circulation of pampletes,

brochures and tarpaulin are another means of promotion.

2 Charcoal Briquetting Procedures

Primarily, this will not end-up with determining the charcoal briquetting

procedure but generally to educate the charcoal makers in Aurora province

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regarding the importance of new technology. This is not only a matter of

preventing the unceasing cutting of trees for wood charcoal production but to

utilize abandoned plant-based materials by converting it into charcoal briquettes.

As such, the clean and green drive program of the government can be promoted at

the same time.

The procedure is simply do collection of raw materials, prepare the materials,

carbonized, grinds, binds, mixed, mould and then dry before labeling and

packaging process be done prior to marketing. The desire sizes and figures

depend largely on the style of briquettor machine.

a. Collection of raw materials

Production of charcoal briquettes and other products for

household energy can be done from collected abandoned biomass

such as leaves, twigs, grasses, branches, coconut husks/shell, and

other rural cellulosic materials. This can be done using mini-dump

truck, tricycle or any type of cargo vehicle.

b. Prepare the raw materials.

Gathered raw materials should be sorted out, chopped and

exposed it under the sun for drying prior to carbonization. Drying

can be done in a way of air, solar and artificial kiln drying.

c. Carbonize the dried materials.

Carbonization takes place when organic matter is raised into

high temperature. The moisture embedded in the solid biomass

should be removed before carbonization can take place. This can be

achieved by drying prior to burning. The biomass then undergoes

pyrolysis, which is the chemical decomposition of organic matter in

the absence of oxygen. Pyrolysis leads to carbonization of the

materials when there is high temperature.

There are two ways of doing carbonization – hot flat and drum

method. Hot Flat or fast carbonizer method can be used for light

materials such as leaves, rice hulls/straw, peanut shell and the like.

Drum-method, on the other hand, can be used for larger materials

like twigs, corn cobs, buko wastes and other similar materials.

The average recovery after carbonization was range to at least

30% and 10% production for hot flat and drum method respectively.

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This means that we can produce 300 kg of carbonized materials for

every 1 ton of soft (small) raw materials while 100 kg for large raw

materials, like coconut husks.

d. Grind the carbonized materials. Feed the carbonized materials into the hopper of the grinding

machine to produce fine carbonized materials. Such fine particles

can now be put into pail or any improvised stainless bucket or

container for mixing with binders.

e. Prepare the binder.

Cassava or corn starch is recommended as binder because

they are smokeless and often available in the local market. Usually,

the amount of starch to be used for charcoal briquettes is 10% of the

weight of carbonized materials. This means that every one (1)

kilogram of carbonized materials needs one hundred (100) grams of

binder (either cassava or corn starch). Nonetheless, Aurora

Charcoal briquettes producer increased the volume of binder as high

as 20% of ground materials to come up with a much better quality.

Gelatinized the starch by adding one (1) liter of water for every one

(1) kilo of fine carbon.

f. Mix the ground particles and the binder.

This is the process of coating every particle of ground

carbonized materials with a film of binder to enhance adhesion in

order to come up with a better quality of briquette. Pour proper

proportions of carbonized materials and gelatinized starch into the

mixer and then mix them thoroughly.

g. Mold the mixture into briquettes.

Convert the mixed materials into finished products through

manual briquettor. Pour the mixture directly to the molder to

transform it into uniformly-sized briquettes. A kilo of charcoal fine

will produce approximately a kilo of charcoal briquettes.

h. Dry the briquettes.

Place the briquettes in trays and dry them either exposing it

under the sun, for two days during sunny days, or putting it inside

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the artificial drier for at least two hours. Place them in a suitable

drier during rainy days for safe keeping purposes.

i. Packing and labeling of charcoal briquettes.

Charcoal can be packed and labeled using shrinkable plastic

bags. Packaging can be 1 kg per pack or in boxes for bulk sales,

usually 5-10 kg per box. The charcoal briquettes are ready for sale

or use in cooking, grilling and heating either in poultry farms and

houses’ fire place.

3 Generating alternative livelihood opportunities for unfortunate rural

uplanders and coastal dwellers.

Promoting charcoal briquetting production can also generates livelihood

opportunities for unfortunate upland farmers and coastal dwellers since the

criteria for hiring laborer does not required diploma or professional license, not

even skilled worker either. In the municipality of Baler, there is a Non-

Government Organization named Ilaya Development Association who luckily

received one set of charcoal briquetting machine funded and granted by the

Department of Labor and Employment. This people’s organization now is

enjoying the benefits of this technology as they currently doing alone the

briquetting production in the province.

In terms of marketing, the products used for household and industrial

consumption can be sold here and abroad under reasonable prices. Charcoals

produced from cellulosic wastes materials are simply environment-friendly,

economically and socially acceptable because of its exemplified characteristics –

smokeless in nature once burn up. Embracing these products as alternative

household energy will save government’s funds allotted for importing Liquefied

Petroleum Gas popularly known as LPG.

Converting briquettes as household energy cannot just helps mitigate

emission of methane, carbon dioxide and other green house gas molecules in the

atmosphere but also sought to reduce impact of deforestation as we replaced the

traditional charcoal making which necessitates cutting of trees that causes

depletion of country’s forest resources. Nevertheless, the so-called briquettes can

be more effective when appropriate stove be used.

ASCOT Research International Journal, Volume 3, December 2010

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RESULTS AND DISCUSSION (Experimental Analysis)

Drum carbonizing method (hard and bigger materials)

Using drum carbonizing method, the research study in table 1

speaks through the data gathered. And as an average result, after

several trials of burning 150 kg of raw coco-husks materials, it

decreases for as low as 15.5 kg or 10.33 % of recovery.

Table 1

Trial

Materials

Time consumed

(hour)

Volume in weight Recovery

(%) Raw(kg) Dry(kg)

1 Coco husks 5 30 3.5 11.67

2 Coco husks 5 30 3.0 10

3 Coco husks 5 30 3.3 11

4 Coco husks 5 30 2.9 9.67

5 Coco husks 5 30 2.8 9.33

Total 25 150 15.5 10.33

Hot flat carbonizing method (soft and small materials)

Using hot flat carbonizing method, the research study

speaks through the data gathered. And as an average result, after

conducted several trials of burning 100 kg of raw rice hulls and

saw dusts materials, it decreases for as low as 15 kg or 30 % and

14.7 kg or 29.4 of recovery respectively, see table 2.

Table 2

Trial

Materials

Time

consumed

Volume in weight Recovery

(%) Raw(kg) Dry(kg)

1 Rice hulls 1:00 10 3 30

2 Rice hulls 1:10 10 3 30

3 Rice hulls 1:05 10 3 30

4 Rice hulls 1:07 10 3 30

5 Rice hulls 1:05 10 3 30

Total 5:27 50 15 30

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Cont…

Trial

Materials

Time

consumed

Volume in weight Recovery

(%)

1 Saw dusts 1:03 10 3 30

2 Saw dusts 1:07 10 2.9 29

3 Saw dusts 1:05 10 3 30

4 Saw dusts 1:01 10 3 30

5 Saw dusts 1:09 10 2.8 28

Total 5:15 50 14.7 29.4

Grinding of carbon materials

What interesting in grinding materials is the quantity of gas

consumed. Table 3 below shows that the gas consumed in grinding

carbonized coconut husks is a little bit expensive compare to the

gas used in grinding rice hulls and saw dust carbonized materials.

This is simply because of the unsound results of carbonization of

which there were still raw coco-fiber that clog up the grinding

machine which causes delay of the operation.

Table 3

Materials Weight

volume (kg)

Gas Consumed

(L)

Coco husks 15.5 .62

Rice hulls 15.0 .28

Saw dusts 14.7 .28

Ash production and burning time analysis (ASCOT Charcoal

Briquette6 vs Natural coconut shell charcoal)

After several trials conducted using natural coconut shell

charcoal (as comparative materials), applying the with same

procedure, weight, place and time; it turns out that natural coconut

charcoal has lesser ash volume as compared to ASCOT charcoal

briquette. Amazingly, ASCOT charcoal briquette has longer

8 The composition of ASCOT charcoal briquette is a combination of branches, coconut husks, rice hulls and saw

dusts with 13.3% cassava starch binders.

ASCOT Research International Journal, Volume 3, December 2010

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burning time. The latest experiments, on the other hands, are

getting better.

Table 4

Materials Weight

(g)

Ash

(g)

Recovery

Percentage

Burning time

(min)

Nature of

Stove

Natural coconut

shell charcoal

250 12 5 55 Metal

Charcoal Briquette 250 56 22 85 Metal

Latest Experiment7 636 80 13 130 Metal

Liquid smoke collection and its efficacy

Table 5 shows, after several trials of collecting liquid

smoke with time consumed equivalent to thirteen hours and

twenty minutes, that there are 3.27 litters liquid smoke collected

in ninety kilograms of Coco-husks or at least one liter of Liquid

Smoke in every thirty (30) kg of raw Coco-husks materials.

Nonetheless, this liquid production may vary depending on the

moisture content of raw materials subject to be carbonized.

Liquid smoke is good for anti-dandruff and very effective

alternative medicine for eczema, tooth ache and gas pain. It can

also be use for any kind of skin diseases both for human and

animals, see photos below treated with liquid smoke.8

7 This latest briquette experiments composes of branches, coconut husks, rice hulls and saw dusts with 20% binders-

cassava starch. 8 A synthesis taken from the personal experiences and testimonies of ILDEA members. ILDEA is an acronym of

people’s organization based in So. Ilaya, Brgy., Zabali, Baler, Aurora. They were the first lucky organization granted with a unit of charcoal briquetting machine and now actively doing charcoal production in the province. The composition of

ASCOT charcoal briquette is a combination of branches, coconut husks, rice hulls and saw dusts with 13.3% cassava starch

binders.

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Table 5

Return Of Investment

Marketing

Expected Market distribution:

Local market

Municipal based

Central aurora market (ex. Baler, San Luis,

Maria aurora…)

Provincial based

Nueva Ecija/Viscaya, Bulacan, Quirino, and

other neighbor provinces.

Agency/Company

NGU’s/LGU’s/NGO’s

DOLE, ASCOT, DENR, DTI, etc…

Export

All countries belong to united nation and other

interested foreign consumers.

Trial

Materials

Time No. of

hour

Volume in weight Production

(L) Start End Raw(kg) Dry(kg)

1 Coco husks 7:30 12:30 5 30 3.5 1

2 Coco husks 7:40 2:00 5:20 30 2.8 1.27

3 Coco husks 8:00 11:00 3 30 3.0 1

Total 13:20 90 9.3 3.27

Tisoy’s picture before May 3, 2010

Tisoy’s picture before June 30, 2010

ASCOT Research International Journal, Volume 3, December 2010

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Production of Magic Stoves

Equipment’s Budgetary Requirement9

Socio-economic Aspect

Charcoal briquetting generates enormous livelihood activity to the

urban and rural communities. Unutilized and underutilized labor can

be tapped that will spur the growth of local economy. Even the

agriculture sector benefits from it by the demand of cassava starch

needed as binder for the briquetting activity.

9 Jovencito M. TiponTipon, (2009). Machine’s Itemized Budget, Laguna: “Tipontipon iron works”.

DESCRIPTION AMOUNT (Php)

Drum carbonizer 1,800.00

Hot flat carbonizer 16,000.00

Grinder with engine 62,000.00

Mixer 8,000.00

Briquettor 21,000.00

Kiln drier 47,000.00

Delivery fee 20,000.00

Total 175,800.00

Php 500.00 Php 1,200.00

Php 700.00

Php 450.00

Php 150.00

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Carbonized waste cellulosic materials can be traded by

underprivileged communities that could improve their way of living.

There is no need for them to travel in the city to seek employment,

they can stay at home and maintain their culture and traditions while

doing charcoal briquettes production.

Further possible advantage has something to do with: 1)

Employment empowerment, 2) Capita l required, and 3) Currency

saver.

Employment creation everywhere because abandoned biomass is

found everywhere. There is no need for specialized skill. Unskilled

labor can be tapped. Very little capital required; cooperatives can be

strengthened.

Aside from sustaining the supply needs of local consumers,

charcoal briquettes can be an export commodity, hence can be a dollar

earner. When Charcoal briquette used as an alternative household

energy for cooking; expensive LPG then can be substituted, thus

currency reserve can be saved.10

10 Power point presentation made by Santiago S. Baconguis, Chief science research specialist, “Ecosystems

Research & Development Bureau, entitled Utilization of biomass charcoal briquette as Alternative fuel for tobacco flue-

curing in the tobacco growing areas in Ilocos, Region, Philippines. There were five units of charcoal briquetting machine distributed in the province of Aurora today, including the one unit given to the organization of Ilaya Development

Association or commonly called ILDEA. They were the active organization doing charcoal production in the province

today. 11

This is taken from the on-going record of ILDEA who operated charcoal briquetting production in Aurora

province. 24 kl. a day is taken from the performance of laborer using fast corbonizer. The figure of 24 came out after dividing numerator (weight of carbonized materials) and denominator (number of hours consumed). Performance of drum

carbonizing method was not included because the time consuming for this will use by the laborer in another stages of doing

charcoal briquetting like grinding all the way down to packaging which is the final stage.

Approximate Economic Parameter11

Suggested Retail

price for Briquettes

24kl/day X 22days/mo. X 12mo./yr X Php 15.00 95,040

Export price 24kl/day X 22days/mo. X 12mo./yr X Php 50.00 316,800

Target competitive

price for liquid smoke

1L/day X 22days/mo. X 12mo./yr X Php 150.00 39,600

Export price 1L/day X 22days/mo. X 12mo./yr X Php 500.00 132,000

Grand Total Php …….…………....583,440

ASCOT Research International Journal, Volume 3, December 2010

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Environmental Impact

For every ton of abandoned biomass charcoal briquette, about 88

trees with a diameter of about 10 cm is saved from fuelwood cutting

and charcoal making. The conserved trees then serve as carbon

sinker.12

CONCLUSION

ILDEA’s rampant cutting of forest trees was reduced after a unit of

charcoal briquetting machine was granted upon them.

Abandoned biomass cannot only be converted as charcoal briquettes but

even liquid smoke can also be extracted.

Liquid smoke is not only good for animal treatment but for human too. It

has a potential alternative medicine for eczema and other skin diseases.

Quality of ASCOT charcoal briquette is gradually getting better and still

in the process of developing more to beat the natural coconut shell

charcoal’s heat calorific value.

RECOMMENDATION

Needs more charcoal briquetting machine in Aurora not just

only for generating employment, additional source of income or

livelihood opportunities but primarily for climate changes’

mitigation and adaption purposes.

Conduct laboratory analysis regarding the chemical content of

liquid smoke to determine further its efficacy as alternative

medicine (for human and animals), fertilizer (for rice, plants,

fruits and vegetables), and insecticide (its efficiency in killing

ants and other types of insects or termites).

12Summary of information is taken from the technical report of the Ecosystem and Research Development

Bureau, entitled “Conduct of Technology forum on the DENR Charcoal Briquetting”, 2009.

Environmental Impact of Charcoal Briquetting

CB Produced Per Year Number of Trees Saved Carbon Sequestered, kg

Kg/year Ton/Year Per Year 10 years Per Year 10 years

79, 200 79. 20 6, 970 69, 697 153,331.2 1,533,312

Total value of timber saved/year/facility = Php 67, 320.00

ASCOT Research International Journal, Volume 3, December 2010

17

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The author expresses his gratitude of thanks to Senator Edgardo J.

Angara for his initiative effort of introducing Charcoal Briquetting

Technology in the province of Aurora, to the Department of Environment

and Natural Resources Office for their generous acts of allotting funds to

this project, to the management of Aurora State College of Technology for

their moral support and assistance to formally implement the project; and

finally, the deepest appreciation goes to the Forestry and Research

Department personnel of ASCOT for their inspirational working unity

towards a meaningful and successful mission vision and goal.

REFERENCES

On line

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charcoal, April, 2010.

http://virtualweberbullet.com/charcoal.html#factors, June 2010.

http://www.whoinventedit.net/who-invented-charcoal-briquettes.html,

April, 2008.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamado, April 2010.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Big_Green_Egg, June 2010.

http://www.nakedwhiz.com/lumpdatabase/lumpbag92.htm, August

2009.

On line article

Hunt, C. et al. The Sustainable Table:

http://www.sustainabletable.org/features/articles/summergrilling/

charcoal.html, April, 2008.

Technical reports

Baconguis, S. Utilization of Biomass Charcoal Briquette as Alternative

Fuel for Tobacco Flue-curing in the Tobacco Growing Areas in

Ilocos, Region, Philippines: Ecosystem and Research

Development Bureau, April, 2008.

ASCOT Research International Journal, Volume 3, December 2010

18

Conduct of Technology Forum on the DENR Charcoal Briquetting,

Laguna, Philippines: Ecosystem and Research Development

Bureau, 2009.

TiponTipon, J. Machine’s Itemized Budget: Tipontipon Iron Works,

Laguna, Philippines, 2009.