BRIQUETTES MADE FROM GREEN COCONUT HUSK FIBER – ENERGY AND SUSTAINABILITY

Abstract

The need to readjust energy production methods to reduce environmental impact involves the strategic use of biomass. Through biomass densification, which can be made up of agricultural waste, it is possible, using the briquetting technique, to obtain high-density blocks with a high degree of compaction, defined as briquettes. Briquettes are high-energy materials that can significantly contribute to the energy matrices of various countries. A proposal for the development of studies aimed at guaranteeing and optimizing the production of briquettes using green coconut husk residue mixed with crude glycerol (resulting from the biodiesel production process) could optimize the production of high-quality coated briquettes with a sustainable character. The proposal is based on studies already developed and found in the literature, in which green coconut fiber is collected, used in its natural state or transformed into charcoal by slow pyrolysis, mixed in predefined proportions with glycerol to obtain briquettes. The physicochemical properties of these briquettes are evaluated simultaneously with characterization tests, with the aim of determining an ideal proportion of the mixtures of the components involved that result in briquettes with better energy performance for specific applications. The development of proposals such as this implies a scientific contribution to the current energy transition process and can also solve local and/or regional problems related to the high production and inadequate disposal of green coconut husks. Although the demand for briquettes made from green coconut waste in Brazil and other coconut-producing regions is influenced by several factors, its market potential in the industrial, commercial, and residential sectors can be considered. Although it is challenging to precisely quantify the current demand for green coconut waste briquettes in Brazil without access to specific market data, the significant potential for growth in this demand is evident, driven by the need for low-carbon energy sources, sustainability, and the development of public policies that encourage the use of renewable energies, stimulating market prospecting. Thus, briquette production can open new markets and create local value chains, generating income for coconut-producing communities due to its energy efficiency.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56238/sevened2026.008-018