Walter Bradley, a professor at Baylor University, spoke at the Jones Seminar on Friday describing discovery of a new and innovative use for the husk which surrounds the shell of coconuts.
Bradley described how the challenge to find a new application for this seed was ethical as well as economical. Concerned by the underutilization of coconuts as well as the plight of coconut farmers, who, on average, subsist on an annual income of $500 a year, Bradley, in conjunction with a former Ph.D. student, began to take a closer look at this tropical fruit.
Initial efforts were frustrating, but not fruitless. Bradley began the project with the intention of developing a coconut oil which could be used in biodiesel. Impeded initially by issues with technical problems and concerned with cost effectiveness, Bradley was forced to abandon this original project. However, such work allowed Bradley to develop a comprehensive understanding of the nut, and gave birth to a more promising venture: auto parts.
Bradley elaborated on his work with a manufacturing plant in nearby Waco, Texas at which he seeks to use the husk of coconuts to produce superior components while simultaneously generating a profit, enriching farmers, and protecting the planet.
According to Bradley, a coconut’s husk presents several unique and advantageous characteristics, including a high lignin content and a large fiber diameter and elongation. Such properties, according to Bradley, yield a husk that is stiff, sturdy and largely incombustible.
While not a plausible resource for the production of pistons or axels, the husk can certainly be used for other components, including door siding and truck lining.
Under current modes of manufacture, such parts are an even mix of polyester and polypropylene, which, while cheap, are synthetic creations. Bradley proposes replacing such polyester with organic coconut fiber and increasing the ratio of coconut fiber within such components to the greatest extent possible.
For Bradley, this goal is not just a dream, but an imminent reality. Owning the intellectual property for this proposed process as well as having incorporated the project-focused Whole Tree, Inc., Bradley is excited about the the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.