Thermal and Elemental Analysis of Coconut Shell Powder as a Nature-Friendly Sustainable Material

Coconut Shell Powder (CSP) is a biodegradable lignocellulosic biomass material derived from coconut shells and comprising principally cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. We characterize elemental and thermal properties of CSP to assess its viability as a nature-based material for agricultural and engineering use. CHSO elemental analysis conducted on the CSP using a LECO CS744 and ONH836 revealed meaningful levels of carbon (40.1 to 42.1%), hydrogen (19.6 to 20.2%), and oxygen (33.3 to 34.7%) proved organic in character and of biomass origin, and a small amount of sulfur (0.084 to 0.090%) suggests that the material may be compatible with the environment to alleviate corrosion and soil acidification. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) under nitrogen, modified to report on TGA results, provides empirical evidence for a three-stage thermal degradation behavior of the material. Initially, moisture loss exists in the range of 50 to 150 °C (6.097%), and the degradation of hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin all occur in the range of 156 to 655 °C (75.369%). A small proportion of the material residue retained in a stabilized state after thermal degradation was found to be 18.291% at 650 °C. All observations were consistent with the literature performance of CSP, which defines its thermal stability and behavior. The elemental and thermal properties collectively confirmed the multipurpose potential for CSP. As a soil amendment, CSP is claimed to be a slow-release material to the soil and improves soil moisture retention. In support of engineering applications, CSP could have potential as a natural filler, an abrasive material, and a provider of insulation from thermal transfers. Overall, CSP is an adaptive material laying the foundations for sustainable innovation in environmentally friendly applications for human use.