7 research outputs found
Study the factors influencing the production of ethanol from waste coconut water
Coconut (Cocos nucifera L) water is found in abundance in Desiccated Coconut (DC)
factories and it is the main constituent in the wastewater from DC industry. DC effluent does
not meet the water discharge standards and has to be treated prior to the discharge. Coconut
water contains sugars and nutrition but limited in industrial application due to its low
concentration. The aim of this work is to explore the possibilities of value addition to waste
coconut water from DC industry and cutting down the load on wastewater treatment plants.
Two main coconut cultivating regions (north-west and south) were selected for sample
collection. Coconut water volume per coconut was examined and statistical values of
coconut consumption from DC factories were used to calculate coconut water discharged
daily and annually from DC industry. Average coconut water volume per coconut found to
be 124 ml. Total sugar concentration was used to calculate the total amount of sugar
available in coconut water from the DC industry.
The total sugar concentration in coconut water is low (North western region 32.6g/l,
Southern region 19.5g/l), which will result low efficiency if used as the sugar source in
fermentation. Hence, it was decided to improve the sugar concentration of coconut water
obtained from the DC industry using evaporation. Evaporation was carried out at three
pressure levels (47.4kPa, 101.3kPa and 198.6kPa) into four concentration levels. The effect
of evaporation on the total sugar content was evaluated. Main drawback of evaporative
concentration of coconut water was the thermal degradation of sugar ranging from 0.12% to
18%. During evaporation acidity and insoluble solids of the coconut water increased.
The concentrated coconut water was fermented into ethanol with a good efficiency. Volume
reduction level of 5 was sufficient to achieve sugar consumption efficiencies about 89% and
evaporation could be carried out at atmospheric pressure. The fermentation efficiency had
marginally dropped with the increase of the volume reduction level and the increase in
temperature and pressure used for evaporation process. A significant drop in the
fermentation efficiency was observed with high sugar concentrations and in the presence of
inhibitors such as HMF and furfural which may be formed at high temperature evaporation
to achieve high volume reduction levels.
The annual coconut water wasted in DC industries was estimated to be about 36.3 million.
However, the estimated producible pure ethanol amount from an average DC factory was
estimated to be 50-60kg per day. Hence concentration followed by fermentation may not be
an economical option for DC factories if pure ethanol is produced as the final product.
However, there is a high potential for producing alcoholic beverage using waste coconut
water from DC industry
Study on strength and durability of cellular cementfly ash blocks
Fly ash which is a waste product collected during
coal combustion has become an issue to the environment and
human due to lack of proper disposal methods. The major
barrier of fly ash not being used as a land filling material is its
heavy metal composition. The usage of fly ash in concrete may
also vary with the composition of unburned carbon in fly ash. If
used in optimum proportions fly ash can give many benefits like
cold weather resistance, high strength gains, a good admixture, a
non-shrink material, great workability, reduced crack problems,
reduced heat of hydration and CO2 emissions. Fly ash can be
used in many applications as an additive in building materials
such as bricks, blocks, concrete, road and embankment covers.
Since fly ash is a by-product it possesses a very low embodied
energy which in turn reduces the embodied energy of the product
made out of fly ash to a considerably low value. Therefore, the
introduction of fly ash into cement sand blocks as a raw material
is a better sustainable practice. This research attempt focuses on
finding a feasible and an effective solution for the coal fly ash
problem in fluidized bed boiler and to check the suitability of
coal fly ash cement blocks in building construction. An
appropriate mix proportion for fly ash cement blocks is found
through trial and error process and various different mix
proportions can be tested to obtain a productive and sustainable
result in future as well. Tests done for the determination of
material properties proved that the raw materials used including
fly ash are healthy and robust to be handled and incorporated
into a day to day used product. Tests proved that the substitution
of fly ash has created very less amount of change to the strength
and durability. Also the experiments done on the heavy metal
leachate confirms this product is eco-friendly and human
friendly. Tests done on durability, strength and thermal
properties have confirmed that fly ash can be used as an effective
substitute for sand in cement sand blocks
Effect of evaporation on sugar content of coconut water in desiccated coconut industry
Coconut (Cocos nucifera L) water is the main constituent in the waste water of
desiccated coconut industry. The high COD values of coconut water, 40000 mg/ Z, is the main reason for having significantly high COD levels, 17000-20000 mg/Z, in the effluent which has to be treated to meet the discharge water standards. Coconut water is found to be rich in sugar and nutrition but limited in industrial application due to its low concentration. The volume and sugar concentration of coconuts used in desiccated coconut industry in Sri Lanka was examined and the effect of evaporation on the total sugar content was evaluated. The average volume was found to be 124 mZ/coconut. A
significant difference in average sugar concentration was observed for north western region, 32.567g/Z and southern region, 19.455 g/Z. Coconut water was concentrated by evaporating at 3 different pressures; vacuum of 47.4 k Pa, atmospheric pressure of 101.3 kPa and high pressure of 198.6 kPa. Coconut water was sterilized completely during evaporation at atmospheric pressure and high pressure. The degradation of sugar was increased with the increase of both pressure and concentration levels. pH level was decreased and the insoluble solid weight was increased with the
increase in concentration level
Effect of evaporation on sugar content of coconut water in desicated coconut industry
desiccated coconut industry. The high COD values of coconut water, 40000 mg//, is the main reason
for having significantly high COD levels, 17000-20000 mg//, in the effluent which has to be treated to
meet the discharge water standards. Coconut water is found to be rich in sugar and nutrition but
limited in industrial application due to its low concentration. The volume and sugar concentration of
coconuts used in desiccated coconut industry in Sri Lanka was examined and the effect of evaporation
on the total sugar content was evaluated. The average volume was found to be 124 m//coconut. A
significant difference in average sugar concentration was observed for north western region, 32.567g//
and southern region, 19.455 g//. Coconut water was concentrated by evaporating at 3 different
pressures; vacuum of 47.4 k Pa, atmospheric pressure of 101.3 kPa and high pressure of 198.6 kPa.
Coconut water was sterilized completely during evaporation at atmospheric pressure and high
pressure. The degradation of sugar was increased with the increase of both pressure and
concentration levels. pH level was decreased and the insoluble solid weight was increased with the
increase in concentration level.
Coconut (Cocos nucifera L) water is the main constituent in the waste water o