Baylor University

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Baylor University

• Scholar's Day 2008
• Stanton Greer

Converting Coconuts into Value-Added Products
Technology and Franchising
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More Than Just Research
Coconut Zone
Poverty Zone

• 50 billion coconuts can
• alleviate poverty for
• 80 million people

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Coconut Products
Snapshot
Market Snapshot Particle Board Market Snapshot Particle Board
Coconut production PB production capacity 50 billion 1 billion
US PB imports Market price 3 billion 14 each
Imported boards 210 million
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Polymer Type
thermoset vs. thermoplastic
Pressure
Temperature
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Making Particle Board

• Hot-press coconut pith ?
• Binder-less particle board
• Stronger, stiffer and cheaper
• Still in R D

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100 psi 140 ºC
Particle Board
Density 0.99g/cm³ E 2.7E6 psi s 2.5 ksi
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Coconut Shell Composite
Polyester-coconut shell composite
20
10
0
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Prospective Partners

• Papua New Guinea
• India
• Kenya
• Mexico
• Philippines
• Liberia

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Summary
Questions?

• Increase coconut value
• Raise quality of life
• Binderless Particle Board
• Coconut Shell Composite
• Commercialization

• Global impact
• Sustainable Rural Enterprises
• Franchise Package
• US and local market sales
• Increase coconut value/quality of life
• Successful and sustainable business