GO GREEN

Championing the Coconut for Sustainability

Here at Jacobi, we are proud advocates of the use of coconut shell to produce activated carbon products. We currently have an ambitious, long-term goal to become the most sustainable producer of activated carbon and are taking every possible step to reach this target. One of the most significant aspects of this is choosing coconut shell as our predominant raw material, plus innovating and developing new ways to use it as a replacement for less sustainable options, most notably coal.

Our Research and Development teams work to find ways to switch our coal-based carbon for coconut-based carbon, making it easier for our customers to improve on their sustainability, whilst never compromising on performance.

Coconut Pellet Success

In the last issue of A Pure World, we announced the launch of our coconut-based activated carbon pellets. These pellets were being developed over five or six years and now, having been on the market for a year, are proving very successful, particularly in the United States. Typically used for vapour treatment, air treatment, and the removal of hydrogen sulphide from air (commonly needed in biogas production and sewage treatment), activated carbon pellets have traditionally been made from coal. For our US customers, the new coconut versions offer both environmental benefits and a cost benefit. Oftentimes, coal is imported from China and for American customers, this means additional and expensive tariffs will be added. Choosing coconut-based pellets eliminates this extra cost. This, combined with their sustainability credentials, has meant our OX-Series has been very much in demand over this past year. In fact, demand is so high that we are currently building a second production line as we are selling out our capabilities. A clear signifier to the industry that a deviation from the norm, in this instance to a more sustainable option, can be a huge success.

“I see the introduction of coconut pellets as a disruptor to very traditional markets,” said John Lever, Vice President of Product Management and Application Support. “It is absolutely a necessary step.”

THE COCONUT AND GO GREEN

Environmental Benefits of Coconut Shell

Renewable resource which takes approximately six months to grow, in comparison to coal, a finite resource that has developed over millions of years.

A waste product that, if left to rot, would produce substantial amounts of methane that contribute significantly to air pollution and climate change.

It is CO2 sequestering, thus capturing carbon dioxide, rather than releasing it into the atmosphere.

Why Choose OX-Series Pellets

Very high purity, meaning higher levels of adsorption in-situ.

Low ash content which equates to more carbon for adsorption.

Made from a hard material that won’t collapse during use.

100% carbon, reducing the amount of administration required for use in mobile filter units.

Requires less force to push air through for treatment than granular carbon, reducing your energy needs and costs.

We know that choosing products that are based on sustainable raw materials is the way forward for our industry. Because of their substantially lower impact on our environment, we continue to innovate and champion the use of our coconut-based products over coal-based. In some cases, it may not be viable due to performance requirements, but where it is possible we strongly recommend it. With the humble coconut still being the basis of the majority of our products, the Go Green initiative continues to provide an increasing number of effective solutions that contribute to a sustainable future.

Find out more about the various ways the initiative is helping by visiting our Go Green website.