Browsing by Author "Perera, W.N.U."

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    Determination of Shell Charcoal Yield of Different Coconut Varieties in Sri Lanka Under Optimum Temperature Condition
    (Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2013) Perera, W.N.U.; Herath, H.M.S.K.; Asanka, J.R.K.
    Due to improper management, inefficient use of resources, low quality inputs and production procedures, charcoal production in Sri Lanka has become a less profitable industry, which pollutes the environment while causing health problems to the workers as well as to society. In Sri Lanka, charcoal is mainly produce using traditional methods. Therefore, the efficiency of these methods and quality of the charcoal produces are low compared to modern-improved technologies. As a developing country, it is difficult to adopt these improved methodologies due to lack of capital and other facilities. The study was carried out to determine (i) Optimum temperature condition for carbonization of Coconut shells and, (ii) the variety that gives the highest charcoal yield. Methodology To determination of optimum carbonization temperature, Coconut shells were oven dried for two days at 70 C, crushed and passed through 5mm sieve. Samples were weighed and placed in a muffle furnace at carbonization temperatures of 200,250, 300,350,400,450,500,550 C for different resident time periods 5, 10, 15,20,25,30 minutes respectively. The charcoal yield was weight in each occasion. Quality parameters such as volatile matter, ash content, moisture content and fixed carbon content of the charcoal was determined. The temperature and time, at which to weight charcoal yield with best quality produced were taken as the Optimum temperature and time. Which referred to the one, which gave the highest amount of charcoal with particular quality parameters (moisture content, ash content and volatile matter content) under optimum carbonization conditions.
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    Determination of Shell Charcoal Yield of Different Coconut Varieties in Sri Lanka Under Optimum Temperature Condition
    (Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2013) Perera, W.N.U.
    Due to the improper management, inefficient use of resources, use of low quality inputs and production procedures, charcoal production in Sri Lanka has become a less profitable industry which pollutes the environment while cause health problems to the workers and also to the society. Laboratory experiments were carried out at Coconut Research institute, Lunuwila to examine Optimum condition for charcoal production and Best charcoal yielding variety out of four coconut varieties named CRIC 60, CRIC 65, CRISL 98, Kapruwana. The carbonization was effected using particle sizes (5mm) at carbonization temperatures between 200 and 500°C in a laboratory muffle furnace. The study involved determination of yield, rate of weight loss, optimum temperature, determination of ash, volatile matter fixed carbon and moisture contents of the carbonized carbon, suitable resident time for carbonization and maximum charcoal yielding variety with its quality parameters. The results showed Kapruwana variety gives maximum yield of 46.59% of carbonized product. It had 0.67, 14.83, 2.12 and 84.5% ash ,volatile matter, moisture content and fixed carbon respectively. The carbonization temperatures of 350°C at resident time of 15 minutes with one hour cooling time were the optimum production conditions for coconut shell charcoal. Key Words: Charcoal, Carbonization, Optimum conditions, Quality parameters, Coconut shell