BATAC CITY, Ilocos Norte—Waste no more; instead turn them into cash! With a newly developed technology from the Ilocos Agriculture Resources Research and Development Consortium (ILARRDEC), voluminous amounts of corn effluents from chichacorn-making and bamboo wastes from bamboo furniture-making are no longer waste problems and eye sores as these could be turned into charcoal briquettes, suitable not only as a substitute for biofuel but also serves as air and water purifiers. Kawayan Charcoal Briquette (KCB) is an environment-friendly technology developed by four researchers from the state-run Mariano Marcos State University in this city as a means of getting rid of wastes from corn effluents and bamboo waste materials. Dr. Stanley Malab, ILARRDEC research director, said the KCB technology is already popular in Ilocos Norte even if it has been only two weeks since it was introduced to the public. According to Malab, the KCB technology was developed in three phases. The first phase focused on the testing of chichacorn effluent as binders, followed by the establishment of a semi-commercial scale production of kawayan charcoal briquettes and the conduct of trainings on the production, promotion and organization of farmer-cooperators. Instead of traditional practice of burning and rotting these wastes from the manufacture of bamboo furniture, handicrafts and for housing and construction, these could be used as an environment-friendly source of biofuel and likewise to reduce the volume of chichacorn affluent that are contributory to environment problems, Malab said as he pointed out that this new technology could be adapted by bamboo farmers and processors as additional source of their income. Compared to carbonized bamboo or fuel wood for cooking, the bamboo charcoal briquette is equal in size, form and density, which makes the latter economically feasible than the former. For every ton of waste bamboo material, it can produce at least 260 kg. Of briquettes with an effluent requirement of 650 liters. Another unique feature of KCB technology when utilized as biofuel is that, the fumes turns white to clear with a longer burning time of three (3) hours as compared to ordinary charcoal. But instead of merely using this as an alternative source of biofuel, Malab said they are also on the process of experimenting for more features of this technology, noting that charcoal is in high demand in other countries. “This (charcoal) is so expensive in other countries. It doesn’t only serve as ‘panggatong’ but could also be used as water purifier and charcoal pillow. The charcoal pillow has been believed to prevent snoring problems,” Malab said. Dr. Patricio S. Faylon, executive director of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD) also added that charcoal briquettes are hanged around his office, serving as air purifiers. Faylon, along with other PCARRD personnel, were present during the presentation of the said technology in Alaminos City, Pangasinan during the “Technologies to People (T2P) regional media conference with the theme “S&T Products to the Market,” attended by media practitioners from the four provinces of Region I as well as Metro Manila. Based on a feasibility study on the project, a P1 investment can earn at least P0.89. Research results noted that production cost of bamboo charcoal briquette per kilogram runs to P4.23, while an ordinary charcoal sold in the market has a P10 cost per kilogram. A partial return per kilogram would be P5.78. KCB technology equipments are carbonizer, shredder/pulverizer and briquetting machine, all available at ILARRDEC. For further inquiries contact Dr. Stanley Malab of ILARRDEC at the Crops Research Laboratory Bldg., Mariano Marcos State University, Batac City, Ilocos Norte; telephone no. (077) 792-3420; fax no. (077) 792-3668 or email at ilarrdec@yahoo.com. Leilanie G. Adriano
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