GC expands coconut-husk‑to‑biochar technology for community waste valorisation
- Technology handed to Mabtaphut City on 22 October 2026 by PTT Global Chemical.
- Mabtaphut produces over 300 kilograms of coconut-husk waste per day targeted for conversion to biochar.
- Two main devices: a prototype pyrolysis drum with three temperature sensors and a hydraulic husk shredder to speed drying.
- Field trial on water spinach showed fertilizer combined with biochar delivered the best growth and yield versus fertilizer alone, biochar alone, or original soil.
Project handover
On 22 October 2026 PTT Global Chemical (GC) handed its coconut husk–to–biochar innovation to Mabtaphut City Municipality. Representatives from GC, King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok, community leaders from Nong Wai Som, and municipal officials attended the ceremony.
Technology
The project converts excess coconut husks—reported at more than 300 kilograms per day in the municipality—into biochar via pyrolysis. GC delivered a prototype production drum adapted from an earlier "Environmentally Friendly Charcoal Kiln," improved for easier use and fitted with temperature sensors at top, middle and bottom, plus a hydraulic shredder developed with KMUTNB to reduce husk size and accelerate moisture loss.
Field trial results
Trials on Nong Wai Som community water spinach compared original soil, fertilizer, fertilizer+biochar, and biochar alone. The fertilizer+biochar plots showed the best average height, leaf count, root length and total yield weight.
Objectives and partners
The Urban (Bio)Char project, run with Mabtaphut City Municipality, IBAP Asia Pacific, Kasetsart University Faculty of Engineering, KMUTNB’s Research and Training Center, and the Rayong Provincial Agricultural Extension Office No. 3, aims to add value to local waste, reduce waste‑management burden, and support circular‑economy agricultural practices.
Source: GC