Some 42 businessmen attended the Technology Investment Forum organized by the Department of Science and Technology Regional Office No. IX, as part of the 2011 Regional Science and Technology Week (RSTW) celebration held on July 4-9 in Dipolog City.
Aside from the promotion of appropriate technologies for possible adoption and commercialization, the forum served as a venue for exchange of ideas, information and experiences among businessmen, food processors, manufacturers and technology generators as well.
Specifically, the forum featured three technologies, namely: 1) Charcoal Briquettes Production 2) Essential Oil Extraction; and 3) Biodiesel from Jatropha curcas / Fuel and Alternative Energy.
Charcoal Briquette, made from a compacted mixture of charcoal powder and starch, is an alternative and clean cooking fuel. It is more efficient than ordinary wood-charcoal because it burns longer and more steadily.
Quality briquettes have high export potential because of its widespread use in the US, Japan, Korea and Malaysia. The best raw material for charcoal briquettes is carbonized coco shell because of its high heating value.
During the open forum, some participants signified intention to adopt the technology considering that they have an abundant and increasing supply of the main raw materials used in charcoal briquetting, such as coco-shell, sawdust, coco-husk, pili shell, coffee bean hull and rich hull. In response to this, DOST-IX will conduct technology needs assessment (TNA) of those firms / individuals who expressed their interests in the adopting the technology.
Essential Oil from Ilang-Ilang is prized for its distinctive scents and health benefits. It is widely used as additives in food, flavoring, cosmetics, perfumes and aromatic oils.
Engr. Belen B. Bisana and Dr. Maria Cielito Siladan of DOST’s Forest Products Research and Development Institute (DOST-FPRDI) served as the resource speakers.
Furthermore, the production of biodiesel from Jatropha curcas was also discussed. Large volume of Jatropha curcas is needed to get into a commercial production of biodiesel. During the discussion, it was learned that BIONAS Philippines, a private firm situated in Salug, Zamboanga del Note, is involved in large scale production of biodiesel from Jatropha curcas. Mr. Sharif Adzhar H. Sarahadil, CEO of BIONAS said that their “bio diesel will be exported to Malaysia once they passed the national industry standards requirements”.
Since a good number of the participants were engaged in bottled sardines processing, the idea of producing biodiesel from used corn oil was tackled by Engr. Armando Mallillin, DOST- ITDI resource speaker. Interests on availing onsite training on biodiesel from used corn oil were expressed. DOST-IX, through the Provincial Science and Technology Center of Zamboanga del Norte, will organize the said training in Dipolog City. (Thelma E. Diego/DOST IX PRESS RELEASE)
