Almeria cooperative produces charcoal briquette air fresheners

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
December 15, 2011

TACLOBAN CITY  –  The members of the Almeria Seafarers Cooperative of Almeria, Biliran, is now producing charcoal briquette air fresheners, thanks to the SET UP program of the Department of Science and Technology.

DOST-Region 8 Director Edgardo Esperancilla approved late last year, the establishment of charcoal briquetting facility using abandoned biomass as raw materials. The project involved the acquisition of charcoal briquetting facility that utilizes bio-mass waste in charcoal production. The project utilizes a combination of DENR-ERB and DOST-FPRDI briquetting technology.

Charcoal is a good air and water filter in addition to its common use as alternative fuel for domestic use, and its many industrial uses.

The Almeria Seafarers Multi-purpose Cooperative led by its manager Anita Corto, thought of developing this small air-cleaning product made of charcoal briquette.

While common air fresheners emits some harmful compounds into the air, this small "thing" absorbs harmful and odor causing compounds from air making them fresh again. This is therefore the true air-freshener in a sense.

The product's environment friendly character is also reinforced by the fact that it utilizes biomass wastes that are charred and powdered then compacted using briquetting machine.

This year, the ASEMCO started producing the charcoal briquette and the air-freshener when commercial operation of the charcoal briquetting facility supported by Department of Science and Technology through Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP) started.

The air-freshener is a small item that can be placed on top of tables or cabinets in rooms where air need to be cleaned. This is useful in newly painted rooms or in rooms sprayed by insect repellant. It could even be placed inside the refrigerator to remove undesirable odors.

Charcoal briquettes are compacted charcoal powder mixed with starch and molded under pressure. Charcoal briquettes can be used in homes, restaurants, and other industries and is an effective substitute to the ordinary wood charcoal.