Engineering properties of five varieties of coconuts (Cocos nucifera L.) for efficient husk separation

ABSTRACT

Coconut husk is used as a natural fiber, and it is constantly gaining economic importance including in organic farming. Yet, there are major knowledge gaps regarding the engineering properties of coconut to design efficient coconut dehusking and coir manufacturing process. A sample of 40 coconuts of each variety, namely Malayan Yellow Dwarf, Malayan Orange Dwarf, Kera Shankara, Chowghat Orange Dwarf, and Chowghat Green Dwarf, were divided into two groups (20 dry and 20 green coconuts), and different engineering properties were measured. It was observed that coconuts show an extensive diversity in size, density, husk thickness, husk weight, shell thickness, shell weight, and kernel thickness, depending on variety and maturity. The present investigation provides necessary information and the need for classifying the coconut fruits based on size/variety rather than weight to design superior coconut dehusking machine.

摘要

椰子壳被用作天然纤维，它在有机农业中不断获得经济上的重要性。然而，关于椰子的工程性质，设计有效的椰子脱壳和椰壳制造工艺存在重大的知识空白。将40个椰子品种Malayan Yellow Darf MYD）、MalayanOrange Dwarf（MOD）、KeraShankara（KS）、Chowghat Orange Dwarf（COD）和 Chowghat-Green-Dwarf (CGD) 的样品分为两组（20干和20绿椰子），并测定不同的工程性质。据观察，椰子在大小、密度、壳厚度、壳重、壳厚度、壳重和核厚度上表现出广泛的多样性，这取决于遗传多样性和成熟度。本次调查提供了必要的信息和需要分类的椰子果实的大小/品种，而不是重量设计优良椰子去壳机。

KEYWORDS:

• Coconut
• bulk density
• true density
• husk thickness
• shell thickness

关键词:

• 椰子
• 体积密度
• 真密度
• 果壳厚度
• 壳体厚度

Acknowledgments

We acknowledge the financial support of the PC Unit, AICRP on Post-Harvest Engineering and Technology, Ludhiana. We also would like to express our gratitude to B. Tech (Agricultural Engineering) students of KCAET, Tavanur, for their contribution in this study.

Additional information

Funding

We acknowledge the financial support of the PC Unit, AICRP on Post-Harvest Engineering and Technology, Ludhiana.