Biomass Densification: Cocopeat Become Cocopeat Block

Biomass densification technology is not only used for energy sectors such as the popular today, namely pellets and briquettes, but also other sectors. Densification of cocopeat or cocodust into block or briquette was the main use not for energy, but for the planting media or agriculture. Cocopeat block is basically also briquette, because its size is bigger than pellet. With cocopeat that has the ability to hold high water and also fertilizer, so its use can be a solution to food problems. A good planting medium will produce good plant growth as well as the harvest. The less fertile land can be repaired with the cocopeat.

Cocopeat block with the cube shape, then all compaction or briquetting technology can be used to manufacture the cocopeat block. The production process of cocopeat block is also the same as wood pellet and wood briquette. In general, the size of cocopeat block is quite large, such as 20x20x20 cm, so most use hydraulic type press machine. When using a screw press machine and piston, the size of the press machine becomes big, expensive and difficult operation. This hydraulic type press machine is the most economical compared to the screw press machine and piston press machine, although it works in batch. Construction of hydraulic machines is also simpler compared to the other two types of press machines. For more details about the compaction technology can be read here.

With an area of coconut plantations owned by Indonesia reached 3.7 million hectares, the potential of cocopeat is also very large. Cocopeat is produced from the production of cocofiber or is the waste of cocofiber production. Currently the utilization of coconut husk is also not optimal. After the coconut is peeled or separated from its husk, it is usually only stacked until it is dry, and used as fuel. The utilization of its husk for the production of cocofiber and cocopeat will give added value more economically attractive. Cocofiber itself is also an export commodity with the use of raw materials for rubber fiber, mats, carpets, and industrial products / household handicrafts. Mats and rubber fibers are widely used in the industry of seats, mattresses and hot coatings (insulators).

As a planting medium that can hold water very high up to 73%, then excess water can be fatal to the plant. In practice, planting media does not use 100% cocopeat but with other media such as sand and charcoal (biochar). In the use of cocopeat block is also destroyed or crushed again so that it can be used to be the planting medium. Making cocopeat block will save the transport, facilitate handling and facilitate the packaging so that can be sent long distance or export economically. The use of coconut with charcoal (biochar) will be a high quality planting medium, because it can hold enough water, become the favorite homes of soil microbes to fertilize the soil and save the use of fertilizer significantly.