A study published in the Proceedings of the 8th FIRST 2024 International Conference on Global Innovations by Rusnadi et al. explores the production of biocharBiochar is a carbon-rich material created from biomass decomposition in low-oxygen conditions. It has important applications in environmental remediation, soil improvement, agriculture, carbon sequestration, energy storage, and sustainable materials, promoting efficiency and reducing waste in various contexts while addressing climate change challenges. More from coconut shells using a cylinder retort kiln. The research investigates how carbonization time and temperature affect the quality and yield of the resulting biochar, highlighting the potential of coconut shells as a valuable biomassBiomass is a complex biological organic or non-organic solid product derived from living or recently living organism and available naturally. Various types of wastes such as animal manure, waste paper, sludge and many industrial wastes are also treated as biomass because like natural biomass these More resource for alternative energy. The study carefully analyzes key characteristics of the biochar, including moisture content, ashAsh is the non-combustible inorganic residue that remains after organic matter, like wood or biomass, is completely burned. It consists mainly of minerals and is different from biochar, which is produced through incomplete combustion.   Ash Ash is the residue that remains after the complete More content, volatile matterVolatile matter refers to the organic compounds that are released as gases during the pyrolysis process. These compounds can include methane, hydrogen, and carbon monoxide, which can be captured and used as fuel or further processed into other valuable products.   More, fixed carbon, and specific fuel consumption, to determine the optimal conditions for its production.

The increasing global demand for energy has driven the search for renewable alternatives, and biomass, derived from organic materials like coconut shells, is a promising option. The study utilizes a cylinder retort kiln, a device that evenly distributes heat to the biomass, to analyze the impact of different temperatures and durations on the carbonization of coconut shells.  

The research demonstrates that both temperature and carbonization time significantly influence the yield and quality of biochar produced from coconut shells. The study pinpoints the optimal conditions for producing high-quality biochar from coconut shells. Carbonization at 400°C for 135 minutes, using four kilograms of raw material, resulted in biochar with 2.80% moisture content, 2.80% ash content, 25.65% volatile matter, and 71.55% fixed carbon, with a yield of 60.75%. These values meet or approach the standards set by the Indonesia National Standard (SNI) for biochar quality.  

The researchers also assessed the specific fuel consumption (SFC) during the carbonization process, which indicates the energy required to produce a kilogram of biochar. The lowest SFC, indicating the most energy-efficient production, was achieved at 400°C for 120 minutes with five kilograms of raw material.  

This research confirms that coconut shells can be effectively transformed into high-quality biochar using a cylinder retort kiln. The optimized carbonization process not only yields a valuable biofuel but also offers a sustainable way to manage coconut shell waste, reducing environmental impact and promoting renewable energy use.  

Source: Rusnadi, I., Fadlurrahman, M. D., Erlinawati, Pratiwi, I., Ridwan, K. A., & Widiyanti, L. (2025). Coconut Shell Carbonization to Produce Biochar Using a Cylinder Retort Kiln. Proceedings of the 8th FIRST 2024 International Conference on Global Innovations (FIRST-ESCSI 2024), 261, 245-255.