DBRIQS: A SUSTAINABLE AROMATIC CHARCOAL BRIQUETTE FROM DURIAN

HUSK (Durio zibethinus L.)

Jyvanz Brainiel D. Abule

Nieves Villarica National High School

Island Garden City of Samal, Davao del Norte

Abstract

One of the inventions in human history was learning how to preserve food from

spoiling, as this was essential for people to settle in one location and build a community.

Nonetheless, extending the shelf life of food items while maintaining their original

qualities remains a crucial and challenging task. As Amit et al. (2017) reviewed that food

is a natural perishable material, prone to deterioration from microbial, chemical, or

physical processes. Food preservation methods prevent food from spoiling effectively.

In Filipino cuisine, these techniques have become characteristic of the country’s most

popular and beloved dishes (Recipedia, 2022) Various traditional methods, such as

smoking and heating, have developed over time to preserve food and retain its

nutritional value and texture.

Briquettes are one of the methods to heat and smoke to preserve food. It is used

to generate energy through direct combustion and are utilized for heating, cooking, and

food preservation purposes, whether at home or in industrial settings, and they are most

effective in fixed bed chambers because of their physical design (Khlifi, et al., 2020;

Okwu and Samuel, 2018). The production of biomass briquettes such as agricultural

waste like durian husks have shown to possess comparable combustion properties to

traditional charcoal briquettes (Marreiro et al., 2021).

 The potential of these aromatic material-infused briquettes to improve the overall

experience and opens new avenues for value-added products. Moreover, Tzima et al.

(2015) emphasized that utilizing locally available materials such as aromatic plants in

conjunction with durian husk can further promote sustainability and economic growth

within the community.

While previous research has explored the potential of durian husk as biomass
briquettes, the potential of incorporating aromatic materials into durian husk briquettes
to enhance their functionality and appeal has not been extensively explored.

Keywords: Copper Adsorption, Wastewater Treatment, and Bat Manure

Introduction

One of the inventions in human history was learning how to preserve food from
spoiling, as this was essential for people to settle in one location and build a community.
Nonetheless, extending the shelf life of food items while maintaining their original
qualities remains a crucial and challenging task. As Amit et al. (2017) reviewed that food
is a natural perishable material, prone to deterioration from microbial, chemical, or
physical processes. Food preservation methods prevent food from spoiling effectively.
In Filipino cuisine, these techniques have become characteristic of the country’s most
popular and beloved dishes (Recipedia, 2022) Various traditional methods, such as
smoking and heating, have developed over time to preserve food and retain its
nutritional value and texture.

Briquettes are one of the methods to heat and smoke to preserve food. It is used
to generate energy through direct combustion and are utilized for heating, cooking, and
food preservation purposes, whether at home or in industrial settings, and they are most
effective in fixed bed chambers because of their physical design (Khlifi, et al., 2020;
Okwu and Samuel, 2018). The production of biomass briquettes such as agricultural
waste like durian husks have shown to possess comparable combustion properties to
traditional charcoal briquettes (Marreiro et al., 2021). The potential of these aromatic
material-infused briquettes to improve the overall experience and opens new avenues
for value-added products. Moreover, Tzima et al. (2015) emphasized that utilizing
locally available materials such as aromatic plants in conjunction with durian husk can
further promote sustainability and economic growth within the community.

While previous research has explored the potential of durian husk as biomass
briquettes, the potential of incorporating aromatic materials into durian husk briquettes
to enhance their functionality and appeal has not been extensively explored.

This study is anchored to the one of the 17 goals of sustainable development

namely; Responsible Consumption and Production. This study highlights the potentiality
of Dbriqs as an aromatic briquette to open up business and improve the smoking quality
to food smoking. This study is limited to the production process of durian husk
briquettes, their physico-chemical, combustion propeties by incorporating aromatic
materials. Other properties such as volatile matter and fixed carbon will not be included
in the study.

Research Methods
This study employed a quantitative research design to investigate the adsorption
capacity of bat manure in removing copper from simulated wastewater. The bat manure
was collected from Barangay Kinawitnon Babak District, Island Garden City of Samal.
The researchers collected bat manure samples from three distinct areas within the
cave: (a), (b), and (c). From each area, three samples were collected, totaling nine
samples. The researchers make sure that the sample collected was bat manure from
guano.
Figure 1. Vampire False Cave Location Map Figure 2. Vampire False Cave
(Source: Davao Speleological Conservation Society (DSpeCS) Inc.)

Independent Variable Dependent Variable

Bat Manure
 Dosage of Bat  Copper Concentration
Manure (ppm)
 Contact Time  Adsorption Rate

Figure 3. The Conceptual Framework of the Study

The materials used are supplied by the central laboratory of the school. This
method involves simple random sampling (SRS) in selecting random locations within
the bat cave or guano deposit to collect samples. The collected bat manure samples
was stored to maintain aseptic conditions and labeled accordingly based on their
sampling point and source. The samples were delivered to the WVN Research and
Laboratory for further analysis. All experimental procedures were conducted in
accordance with ethical guidelines, prioritizing the safety of researchers and the
environment. The study also adhered to local regulations and ethical standards for
research involving natural resources.

Results and Discussion

 The following results were being discussed included the adsorbent dosage, Cu
concentration (ppm) of bat manure and contact time, copper (Cu) adsorption, and
adsorption capacity comparisons between organic and commercial manures.

Adsorbent Dosage and Cu Concentration (ppm) of Bat Manure

Table 1 shows the results of the Copper (Cu) Concentration and Post-treatment
based on its ppm (parts per million) and trials between Organic Manure and
Commercial Manure with its total mean.

Table 1. The Adsorbent Dosage and Cu Concentration (ppm) of Bat Manure and
Commercial Manure

Amount of Concentration, ppm

Post-treatment Mean
Sample Adsorbent @
(ppm)
pH 5.0 T1 T2 T3
0.5g 3.8 3.8 3.7 3.8
Organic
Manure 1.0g 2.1 2.1 2.5 2.2

Mean 3.0 3.0 3.1 3.0

0.5g 4.5 4.5 4.8 4.6

Commercial
Manure 1.0g 2.5 2.6 2.8 2.6

Mean 3.5 3.6 3.8 3.6

Based on the table, 0.5g of organic manures (T1, T2, and T3) were recorded to
have a mean copper concentration of 3.8ppm after post-treatment, which is higher
compared to the 1.0g of organic manure (T1, T2, and T3) that were recorded to have a
mean copper concentration of 2.2ppm. On the other hand, 0.5 g of commercial manure
with a mean copper concentration of 4.6 ppm is higher than the 1.0g of commercial
manure with a mean copper concentration of 2.6 ppm. 0.5g of organic manure with a
mean copper concentration of 3.8 ppm is lower than 0.5g of commercial manure with a
mean copper concentration of 4.6 ppm. While 1.0g of organic manure was lower in
mean copper concentration of 2.3ppm than 1.0g of commercial manure, resulting in a
2.6 ppm concentration.
This data consistently resulted in lower post-treatment copper concentration in
ppm compared to commercial manure, indicating higher copper removal efficiency in
the organic manure. This implies that the higher the amount of adsorbents, the more
copper can be removed. The findings was supported by the study of Bello, et al., (2024)
stated that increasing the amount of corn cob adsorbent enhanced copper removal by
providing more available binding sites.
In addition, the study of Dada et al. (2024) found that factors like pH, initial
concentration, and adsorbent dosage significantly influence the adsorption process and
removal efficiency.

Contact Time and Copper (Cu) Adsorption

Table 2 shows the results of the Copper (Cu) Adsorption Rate based on its
micrograms (ug/g) and trials between Organic Manure and Commercial Manure.

Table 2. The Contact Time and Adsorption Rate of Bat Manure and Commercial
Manure

Adsorption Rate, µg/g Mean

Sample Test Parameters
T1 T2 T3 (µg/g)
50ml at 5.0ppm Cu;
120 120 130 123
Organic Manure 15mins contact time
50ml at 5.0ppm Cu;
145 145 125 138
30 mins contact time
Mean 133 133 128 131
 50ml at 5.0ppm Cu;
50 50 20 40
15mins contact time
Commercial Manure
50ml at 5.0ppm Cu;
125 120 110 118
30 mins contact time

Mean 88 85 65 79

Based on table above, the organic manure (T1, T2, and T3) with a contact time
of 15 minutes has a mean adsorption rate of 123.3µg/g and is lower than the adsorption
rate of organic manure (T1, T2, and T3) with a contact time of 30 minutes that has
138.3µg/g adsorption rate. Similarly, the commercial manure with a contact time of 15
minutes has a mean adsorption rate of 40µg/g and is also lower compared to the mean
adsorption rate of commercial manure with a contact time of 30 minutes which has a
mean adsorption rate of 118.3µg/g.
The organic manure with a contact time of 15 minutes has a 123.3µg/g mean
adsorption rate higher than the commercial manure with 40µg/g of the same contact
time. Also, the organic manure with a contact time of 30 minutes has a 138.3µg/g mean
adsorption rate higher than the commercial manure which has 118.3µg/g with the same
contact time. These results suggest that organic manure is a more effective adsorbent
for copper removal, particularly when given extended exposure time, making it a
potentially more efficient choice for copper adsorption applications compared to
commercial manure. The longer the contact time, the greater the adsorption rate. This
idea also correlate to the study of Ossai et al. (2023) about eliminating nitrogen from
wastewater. They concluded that the specific contact times resulted in the best nitrogen
removal. The idea demonstrates how crucial contact time is to maximizing the efficacy
of bio-adsorbents. On the contrary, the study of Kurniawan et al., (2022) demonstrated
strong initial adsorption of iron (Fe) from Batik Cual wastewater, reaching 26.28%
efficiency in 40 minutes. However, extending contact time beyond this point would not
significantly improve removal, as the adsorption process eventually saturates.

Adsorption Capacity of Organic Manure vs. Commercial Manure

Table 3 shows the results of the t-test comparing the adsorption mean of organic
manure and commercial manure. It includes the average values, degrees of freedom
(df), t statistic (t stat), p-value (P(T <= t)), and critical t value (t Critical), all calculated for
a two-tailed test.

Table 3. Comparison of Adsorption Capacity of Manure

Variable mean df t-stat t-critical p-value
Organic Manure 130.83
10 2.75 2.23 0.02
Commercial Manure 79.17

The table shows that the mean adsorption value for organic manure is 130.83
while commercial manure has a mean of 79.17. This suggests that organic manure is
more effective in retaining or binding substances, whereas the lower value for
commercial manure implies it is less effective in adsorption. The comparison between
organic and commercial manure, using a t-test, shows a degree of freedom (df) of 10, a
t-statistic= 75, t-critical= 2.23, and a p-value of 0.02. Since the p-value is 0.02 and is
less than alpha 0.05, the data indicates that organic manure significantly outperforms
commercial manure in terms of adsorption capacity, highlighting its higher effectiveness.
Citation here
This finding aligns with the principles of RA 6969 (AN ACT TO CONTROL
TOXIC SUBSTANCES AND HAZARDOUS AND NUCLEAR WASTES, PROVIDING
PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS THEREOF, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES) which
mandates the control and management of toxic substances like copper to protect public
health and the environment. By utilizing organic manure, the researchers aims to
reduce reliance on potentially harmful chemical treatments and contribute to a more
sustainable approach to wastewater management.

Conclusion

Therefore, the research explored the potentiality of bat manure as an adsorbent

to remove copper contamination from wastewater.
In conclusion the bat manure, particularly at a dosage of 1.0g, significantly
reduced copper concentrations to 2.2 ppm after treatment, outperforming commercial
manure. Increasing contact time from 15 to 30 minutes enhanced adsorption rates for
both types of manure, consistently showing higher adsorption rates (138.3 µg/g vs.
118.3 µg/g). Statistical analysis (t-test, p<0.05) confirmed the superior performance of
bat manure, likely due to its higher organic matter content. Further research is needed
to determine its optimal application in agriculture or industry, but this study
demonstrates the potential of bat manure as a sustainable and effective solution for
wastewater treatment. The researchers recommend further studies to explore other
potential uses of bat manure, such as in agriculture, particularly in phytoremediation to
remove heavy metals like copper from contaminated soils and to investigate the
presence of copper-eating bacteria in the sample, as well as compare the effectiveness
of different types of bat manure such as with fruit bats.

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ecosystem-service-by-consuming-a-1djyqx0j

Bello, A., Adetunji, A., Bakogun, D., Aloko, S., & Oyeyemi, S. (2024). Investigation into the Optimization

Process of Adsorbent Dosage on Heavy Metal Removal. Retrieved from

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/382901233_Investigation_into_the_Optimization_Pr

ocess_of_Adsorbent_Dosage_on_Heavy_Metal_Removal

Dada, A., Latona, D., Tokula, B., & Adekola, F. (2024). Effect of pH, Concentration, Contact time,

Temperature, and Adsorbent Dosage Operational Parameters on Adsorption of Cu(II) ions onto

Bamboo-nZVI. Retrieved from

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/383172913_Effect_of_pH_Concentration_Contact_ti

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ns_onto_Bamboo-nZVI
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agricultural wastes-cattle manure and poultry manure for bioremediation of crude oil-

contaminated soil. Retrieved from

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Kurniawan, W., Aldila, H., & Livia, L. (2022). The Effect Of Contact Time Variations On The Efficiency

Value And The Adsorption Kinetic Mechanism Of Iron (Fe) On Batik Waste Cual Using Chitosan.

Retrieved from https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/The-Effect-Of-Contact-Time-Variations-

On-The-Value-Kurniawan-Aldila/0dc409f37ba3f1d1814830b03598e6fdb6dcae5a

Marwa, E., Andrew, T., & A. A., H. (2021). Challenges Facing Effective use of Bat Guano as Organic

Fertilizer in Crop Production: A Review. International Journal of Engineering and Applied

Sciences (IJEAS). Retrieved from https://elicit.com/notebook/645ea04f-4084-417e-9251-

01b9a741594a#17f10dc21d00079be785db8ff9ce32b1

Ossai, B. J., Iweriolor, S., & Odeworitse, E. (2023). Numerically Optimized Effects of Contact Time Factor

of Pulverized and Modified Bio-Adsorbents on Nitrogen Removal Rates in Industrial Wastewater.

Journal of Water Resources and Pollution Studies. Retrieved from

https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/5899419aa0cc2e539cf5cf0b4670433f373ccfaa
Singh, V., Singh, N., Rai, S., Kumar, A., Singh, A., Singh, M., . . . Mishra, V. (2023). Heavy Metal

Contamination in the Aquatic Ecosystem: Toxicity and Its Remediation Using Eco-Friendly

Approaches. Toxics. Toxics, 147. doi:doi:10.3390/toxics11020147.

World Health Organization. (2017). Many at risk of contracting diseases from the poorly managed

wastewater of 26 million Filipinos. World Health Organization. Retrieved from

https://www.who.int/philippines/news/feature-stories/detail/many-at-risk-of-contracting-

diseases-from-the-poorly-managed-wastewater-of-26-million-filipinos