Coconut Husk

The increase in consumption of coconut usage every year leads to the production of the fiber of it, presently a very less quantity of coconut husk is used in domestic application mainly as a fuel and remaining as waste which is directly proportional to the quantity of coconut cultivated. The main thrust of present research work is to explore the possibility of utilizing coconut husk fibers as reinforcement for composites with the appropriate matrix material. The fiber reinforced plastic composites made of areca fibers extracted from areca were prepared with used plastics. The composite material prepared with different proportion of reinforcement and matrix material. The required dimensions of the die were prepared using mild steel. The matrix material is placed layer by layer with reinforcement in the die. The die is designed to heat the material to its semi-liquid state with the help of heater at the bottom of the die. The material is compacted by an applying a force 500 kgf and soaked in a die for 2 hours at 115C. Then the composite is allowed to cool to room temperature. The resulted composite is cut into required dimensions to carry out mechanical properties of it; they are Tensile strength, bending strength, and compression strength and impact tests. The results of the mechanical properties of composites are quite competitive with existing plywood planks. The composite is also tested for threading operation by tapping and it shows tapping is obtained successfully in the composites.

In this research, activated carbon (coconut husk waste) is prepared using sulfuric acid activation from coconut husk waste which is a cheap material that shows agreed scavenging actions by adsorption for eliminating the toxic textile dyes (methylene blue MB, crystal violet CV, as well as Brilliant Blue BB) from the aqueous solutions. In a shaker water bath, different physio-chemical factors like contact time, adsorbent dose, pH, temperature of the dye solution and initial concentration of the dye have been measured and the adsorption time is 120 minutes. The results show that adsorption of MB, CV is favorable at a high pH value, but at acidic pH, the brilliant blue BB dye is favorable. The activated carbon thermodynamic analysis is conducted using three dyes: The Gibbs free energy, entropy and also enthalpy. According to the results, the adsorption is a Physical (endothermic). It is also found that the activated carbon is regulated by the equations of Freundlich and Temkin. Finally,...

Adsorption isotherm and kinetics of methylene blue on activated carbon prepared from coconut husk were determined from batch tests. The effects of contact time (1–30 h), initial dye concentration (50–500 mg/l) and solution temperature (30–50 • C) were investigated. Equilibrium data were fitted to Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin and Dubinin–Radushkevich isotherm models. The equilibrium data were best represented by Langmuir isotherm model, showing maximum monolayer adsorption capacity of 434.78 mg/g. The kinetic data were fitted to pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order and intraparticle diffusion models, and was found to follow closely the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Thermodynamic parameters such as standard enthalpy (H •), standard entropy (S •) and standard free energy (G •) were evaluated. The adsorption interaction was found to be exothermic in nature. Coconut husk-based activated carbon was shown to be a promising adsorbent for removal of methylene blue from aqueous solutions.

The adsorption characteristics of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (TCP) on coconut husk-based activated carbon prepared under optimized conditions were evaluated. Batch adsorption studies were conducted to study the effects of various parameters such as initial concentration, agitation time and solution pH on TCP adsorption. Adsorption capacity was found to increase with increase in initial concentration and agitation time, while acidic pH was more favourable for the adsorption of TCP. Equilibrium data were analyzed by the Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin and Redlich–Peterson models by using non-linear regression technique. The equilibrium data were best represented by the Langmuir isotherm, yielding maximum monolayer adsorption capacity of 716.10 mg/g at 30 • C. The adsorption kinetics was found to follow the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The mechanism of the adsorption process was determined from the intraparticle diffusion model. Boyd plot revealed that the adsorption of TCP on the activated carbon was mainly governed by particle diffusion. Coconut husk-based activated carbon was shown to be an efficient adsorbent for removal of TCP from aqueous solutions.

— Problems related to the concrete industry such as carbon emission and durability drawback, as well as underutilization of agricultural wastes in Malaysia has led an opportunity to develop Fibrous Pozzolanic Concrete (FPC), a formulation that uses pozzolans as partial cement replacement material, and natural fibres as concrete reinforcement materials. The formulations differ from conventional concrete through 10%, 15% and 20% cement replacement with pozzolan and 0.5% addition of natural fibres to the mix. Based on the research, it can be concluded that Palm Oil Fuel Ash is an ideal cement replacement material as its designs of 15% cement replacement level (PO15 and PC15) yields comparable compressive strength (27.66 MPa and 24.40 MPa respectively) with Control (25.24 MPa). However, PO15 and PC15 is more prone to acid attack with percentage mass loss of 1.54% and 2.54% respectively compared to conventional concrete (1.57%) when immersed in HCl solution. Rice Husk Ash is an unideal replacement for cement as it is lightweight and highly amorphous, affecting the compressive strength to be severely lower than conventional concrete. Coconut Husk Fibre (CHF) and Palm Oil Fibre (OPF) analysed for degradation yielded up to 15% and 22% intensity reduction of present bonds respectively, after reaction with cement.

The hypoglycaemic effects of Cocos nucifera (Coconut) Husk was studied on 20 alloxan-induced diabetic female rats which were randomly grouped into two (n=10). Group I served as control while group II served as experimental groups. The rats were made diabetic by intraperitoneal administration of 150 mg/kg of alloxan. The extract was obtained by cooking the husk in boiling water for 45 minutes in a gas stove flame at a 100 degree Celsius and the fluid was filtered out and kept as the tea for the experiment. The control group was given 2 ml of 0.9 % (normal) saline daily and group II was given 2 ml of the coconut husk tea only daily by Oro-gastric tube and random blood sugar was measured daily in the rats. The weights of the rats were checked daily using a digital electronic weighing balance. At the end of the experiments the animals were sacrificed and the pancreas harvested and histopathological slides made. In the treated diabetic rats, blood glucose levels were significantly reduce...

Context: Liquid smoke coconut shell (LS-CS) contains phenolic compounds that are able to promote wound healing by interfering with the inflammation phase of wound healing. The homeostatic mechanism that decreases the inflammation releases a growth factor that enhances proliferation by increasing fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression and fibroblast proliferation.

Aims: To analyze the role of LS-CS in the proliferation phase of oral traumatic ulcer healing by analyzing fibroblast numbers and FGF-2 and VEGF expressions.

Methods: Oral traumatic ulcers were induced in diabetes mellitus Wistar rats via an alloxan injection. A traumatic ulcer as long as 10 mm was made in the inferior fornix incisive labial area. The oral traumatic ulcer was then topically treated with LS-CS using a dose of 20 μL/ 20 g body weight once daily for three, five and seven days. The fibroblast number of the oral traumatic ulcers’ tissue was then analyzed using hematoxylin-eosin, and the FGF-2 and VEGF expression were analyzed via immunohistochemistry staining. The difference in fibroblast numbers and FGF-2 and VEGF expressions were analyzed by one-way ANOVA and post hoc tests with a significance of p<0.05.

Results: The LS-CS affected fibroblast numbers (p=0.001) and FGF-2 expression (p=0.000) after topical treatment for seven days. There was a significant difference in the expression of VEGF after topical treatment with LS-CS for five days compared to the control group (p=0.000) and benzydamine hydrochloride (p=0.005). The topical treatment of LS-CS for seven days affected the expression of VEGF compared to the control group (p=0.000) and benzydamine hydrochloride (p=0.019).

Conclusions: LS-CS could improve the healing of oral traumatic ulcers by increasing fibroblast numbers and FGF-2 and VEGF expression after seven days of treatment.

Despite the abundance of diverse biomass resources in Africa, they have received little research and development focus. This study presents compositional analysis, sugar, and ethanol yields of hydrothermal pretreated (195 °C, 10 min) biomass from West Africa, including bamboo wood, rubber wood, elephant grass, Siam weed, and coconut husk, benchmarked against those of wheat straw. The elephant grass exhibited the highest glucose and ethanol yields at 57.8% and 65.1% of the theoretical maximums, respectively. The results show that the glucose yield of pretreated elephant grass was 3.5 times that of the untreated material, while the ethanol yield was nearly 2 times higher. Moreover, the sugar released by the elephant grass (30.8 g/100 g TS) was only slightly lower than by the wheat straw (33.1 g/100 g TS), while the ethanol yield (16.1 g/100 g TS) was higher than that of the straw (15.26 g/100 g TS). All other local biomass types studied exhibited sugar and ethanol yields below 33% and...

In this research, activated carbon (coconut husk waste) is prepared using sulfuric acid activation from coconut husk waste which is a cheap material that shows agreed scavenging actions by adsorption for eliminating the toxic textile dyes (methylene blue MB, crystal violet CV, as well as Brilliant Blue BB) from the aqueous solutions. In a shaker water bath, different physio-chemical factors like contact time, adsorbent dose, pH, temperature of the dye solution and initial concentration of the dye have been measured and the adsorption time is 120 minutes. The results show that adsorption of MB, CV is favorable at a high pH value, but at acidic pH, the brilliant blue BB dye is favorable. The activated carbon thermodynamic analysis is conducted using three dyes: The Gibbs free energy, entropy and also enthalpy. According to the results, the adsorption is a Physical (endothermic). It is also found that the activated carbon is regulated by the equations of Freundlich and Temkin. Finally,...

In this research, activated carbon (coconut husk waste) is prepared using sulfuric acid activation from coconut husk waste which is a cheap material that shows agreed scavenging actions by adsorption for eliminating the toxic textile dyes (methylene blue MB, crystal violet CV, as well as Brilliant Blue BB) from the aqueous solutions. In a shaker water bath, different physio-chemical factors like contact time, adsorbent dose, pH, temperature of the dye solution and initial concentration of the dye have been measured and the adsorption time is 120 minutes. The results show that adsorption of MB, CV is favorable at a high pH value, but at acidic pH, the brilliant blue BB dye is favorable. The activated carbon thermodynamic analysis is conducted using three dyes: The Gibbs free energy, entropy and also enthalpy. According to the results, the adsorption is a Physical (endothermic). It is also found that the activated carbon is regulated by the equations of Freundlich and Temkin. Finally, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) have been used to show adsorption.

Despite the abundance of diverse biomass resources in Africa, they have received little research and development focus. This study presents compositional analysis, sugar, and ethanol yields of hydrothermal pretreated (195 °C, 10 min) biomass from West Africa, including bamboo wood, rubber wood, elephant grass, Siam weed, and coconut husk, benchmarked against those of wheat straw. The elephant grass exhibited the highest glucose and ethanol yields at 57.8% and 65.1% of the theoretical maximums, respectively. The results show that the glucose yield of pretreated elephant grass was 3.5 times that of the untreated material, while the ethanol yield was nearly 2 times higher. Moreover, the sugar released by the elephant grass (30.8 g/100 g TS) was only slightly lower than by the wheat straw (33.1 g/100 g TS), while the ethanol yield (16.1 g/100 g TS) was higher than that of the straw (15.26 g/100 g TS). All other local biomass types studied exhibited sugar and ethanol yields below 33% and...

One mechanism used by coconut plant to protect itself against Phytophthorakatsurae is linked to total polyphenols production. This study aimed to investigate the impact of phosphorous acid plant treatment on the production of total polyphenols in coconuthusk, as part of chemical control. The study was conducted on two coconuts cultivars (EGD and PB 121+) with four doses of phosphorous acid [Control, 2.8 g (TA), 5.6 g (TB), 11.2 g (TC)]. At each sampling, the husks were processed and extracts were prepared for total polyphenols assays. There was significant difference between EGD and PB 121+ total polyphenols production (p<0.001). The interaction
between coconut variety and phosphorous acid doses was also significant. The interaction EGD and TC had the highest total polyphenols accumulation of 4838.5 μg/g of fresh weight (FW). For PB121+, the highest total polyphenols accumulation of 6433.71 μg/g FW was obtained from the interaction between PB121+ and T0. From this observation, it could be statedthat phosphorous acid only triggers the treated plantdefense mechanisms to produce total phenolic compounds when attacked by a pathogen.

Context: Liquid smoke coconut shell (LS-CS) contains phenolic compounds that are able to promote wound healing by interfering with the inflammation phase of wound healing. The homeostatic mechanism that decreases the inflammation releases a growth factor that enhances proliferation by increasing fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression and fibroblast proliferation. Aims: To analyze the role of LS-CS in the proliferation phase of oral traumatic ulcer healing by analyzing fibroblast numbers and FGF-2 and VEGF expressions. Methods: Oral traumatic ulcers were induced in diabetes mellitus Wistar rats via an alloxan injection. A traumatic ulcer as long as 10 mm was made in the inferior fornix incisive labial area. The oral traumatic ulcer was then topically treated with LS-CS using a dose of 20 μL/ 20 g body weight once daily for three, five and seven days. The fibroblast number of the oral traumatic ulcers&#39; tissue was then analyzed usin...