The research aims to find some alternative use for the shell of the cocoa ( Theobroma cacao) except sweat for composting.
I have practical experience, based on observations made in cocoa producing region (Eastern) in Sierra Leone. Besides heaping cocoa shells for composting making, some farmers have multiple uses, including:
1. Burning of dry empty cocoa shells to get ash. The ash can be used in soap making (traditional soap).
2. Ash from cocoa shells can also bee use in pests control in vegetable gardens. Farmers broadcast ash on plants, which may serve as repellants.
Cocoa shells can be used as an adsorbent. Several researchers have investigated its use in adsorbing dyes. Check articles written by Mylsamy Shanker and Theivarasu Chinniagounder.
Cocoa shell can be ground and used together with water, urea and rock phosphate to generate biogas. The remaining slurry can be used as a fertilizer.
Depending of amount of cocoa shell you have available per day/month you can think about gaseification process. We have experience with small gaseifiers of wood pellets and residues at rural áreas for generation of electricity.
Barry Callebaut has filed a patent for a process to grind cocoa shells into a powder fit for use as a cocoa replacer, fat bloom inhibitor and ingredient in other foods.
http://www.confectionerynews.com/Ingredients/Cocoa-shell-powder-has-numerous-uses-in-chocolate-and-foods-says-Barry-Callebaut
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Thesis Research