Carbonized rice hull exported to Japan

Through a process developed by agricultural engineers of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) in Maligaya, Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, rice hull can now be carbonized and exported to Japan. Rice hull used to be an unwanted by-product of rice milling.

Two farmer organizations in Nueva Ecija are already cashing in on carbonized rice hull (CRH) with assistance from PhilRice and the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement (PRRM). They have already exported nine container vans of CRH to Japan.

Dr. Bernardo D. Tadeo, who developed the rice hull carbonizer used by the farmer organizations with the help of Engr. Joel C. Cordero, said that CRH is an excellent soil conditioner. Continuous application of CRH replenishes the nutrients lost from the soil as a result of continuous use of inorganic fertilizers.

When applied to the soil, CRH artificially prolongs the duration of sunlight that increase soil and water temperature. It has high air permeability since it is porous and bulky, and has the ability to replenish air in the soil. It is also a favorable habitat for beneficial microorganism in the soil because it is sterilized and free from disease organism.

Moreover, CRH is an excellent ingredient for bioorganic fertilizers. It can be mixed with other farm and kitchen wastes plus microbial inoculants for making bioorganic fertilizer.

Dr. Tadeo explained that in principle, the carbonizer operates by covering a small fire with a combustion chamber and by slowly scattering the rice hulls outside the chamber to make a mound. The draft force that pulls the smoke through the chimney continually draws air to partially decompose the rice hull. Lengthening the chimney hastens the carbonizations process, while increasing the mound will prolong the process, resulting in the production of ash and reduction of CRH quality.

Ten bags of rice hull make six to seven bags of CRH in about three hours. – SMAP