Use of Coconut Oil as a Renewable Resource in 2050 - Term Paper Example

Use of Coconut Oil as a Renewable Resource in 2050 Table of Contents Executive Summary 3 An Overview of Coconut Oil 4 Development of Coconut Oil as aRenewable Resource in 2050 5 Reflective Analysis and Conclusions 8 References 9 Executive Summary The paper intends to explain the use of coconut oil as a renewable resource in 2050. In accordance, the associated benefits of coconut oil and the development of coconut oil, as a renewable resource, have been determined in the paper. One of the key benefits of coconut oil is its use in cooking purpose and as food for diet. Coconut oil is determined to be used as a renewable resource because it has been already utilized in different regions of the world for a number of purposes, such as biofuel, electricity and in reducing health related few diseases as well. There are different kinds of coconut oil, such as coconut oil from wet coconut and coconut oil from dry coconut. The technology, which is used to produce coconut oil, is well developed and medium scale industries use this type of technology. In daily human life, coconut oil is very important. Human beings can use this oil for their skin to reduce the dryness of the skin. As a renewable resource, the demand of coconut oil cannot be undermined, rather it needs to be proliferated in order to ascertain that the future generation can leverage the benefits of using various products that require the extensive use of oil to run. Keywords: Renewable resources, coconut oil, coconut shell, husks and bio-diesel An Overview of Coconut Oil In the historical parlance, human beings used coconut oil and the coconuts as foods for thousands of years. Coconut oil is produced by the crushing copra that can be determined as the dried kernel, which consists of about 60 to 65% of oil. This oil has the natural sweetened taste of coconut and encompasses 92% of soaked fatty acids (Krishna & et. al., 2010). A majority of them are lower chains soaked acid, which is known as medium chain fatty acids. Everyone can use coconut oil as an important psychologically efficient food for diet (Schardt, 2012). It is thus defined as an essential food that provides health benefit and the basic nutrients. Coconut oil is one of the most easily digestible oils and can observe the fats. It will neither increase nor decrease the cholesterol level. In comparison with all other oil seeds, coconut oil has the highest productivity as well as consistency in production. Diverse kinds of coconut oil are also available, such as coconut oil from dry coconut, virgin coconut oil from wet coconut and coconut oil by solvent extraction method that is called refined oil (Krishna & et. al., 2010). The technology, which is used for production of coconut oil through mechanical method, is well developed while many medium scale industries use this method or technology to produce the coconut oil. Nevertheless, small- scale industries produce coconut oil by melting out fresh coconut and by using local mechanical methods. Coconut oil is determined as a renewable source due to which, it cannot be exhausted, as day-by-day the demand of this is increasing. At present, coconut oil is used for many purposes; even as it can be used in diesel engines. This oil is also used for losing weight, wherein people can use coconut for cooking. People can also use this oil on skin to reduce the dryness of the skin and in hair to develop health, shine and growth. It provides much health benefits to the people who live in regions where coconut oil is found in abundance. Use of this resource was also identified in protecting from diseases like cancer and diabetes. To be noted in this context, coconut oil has antioxidant goods, as it helps in concentration of other materials. It is also referred as an unbelievable source of medium chain fatty acids, which is useful for ensuring greater degree of health benefits. It further facilitates in reducing the development of cholesterol level and fights against heart diseases. It also develops the digestion and nutrition absorption (Vasudevan, 2009). Moreover, coconut oil is also useful for normal thyroid function. Another benefit of coconut oil is that it enables to balance the body’s metabolism and hormones. It also aids in preventing viral infection of the body, as it is used to remove the makeup and massage oil in human life. Coconut oil and coconut milk are inspired by the popularity in Asian region in the present day purview wherein nations, such as Sri Lanka, which has extensive leverage of benefits from this renewable resource. People of these regions, who already have adopted the use of coconut oil, get important portion in calories from it. Identifiably, various portions of coconut oil can be used as drugs as well (Krishna & et. al., 2010; Adkins & et. al., 2006). In nations, such as the UK, coconut oil has been used in order to produce biodiesel. The production of biodiesel has been emphasized to run the Royal Train in the nation. Besides, bus as well as taxi fleets are also being run with the use of biodiesel (Green Fuels Ltd, 2012). Therefore, it can be affirmed that although the key use of coconut had started in the Asia-Pacific region, it has started to be expansively used in different sectors in other global regions as well. Development of Coconut Oil as a Renewable Resource in 2050 In the due course of development of civilization, there has been an extensive use of non-renewable resources, which has created a major question mark over their availability for the future generation. Thus, in order to ensure that future generation of human civilization enjoys the similar kind of amenities, such as use of car and other aspects, there is a need to rethink about using beneficial renewable energy source, i.e. coconut oil, more extensively. It has been affirmed that coconut oil is used for many purposes in human life. Coconut oil is widely used in cooking purposes in a number of places throughout the world, especially in the Asian region. Coconut oil also helps in reducing many health diseases, as already mentioned above. Coconut oil is also used as biofuel, wherein the combination of coconut oil and diesel engine, produce bio engine. It is a prominent path of action, which can be further enhanced in the future, so that by 2050, such use of coconut oil as a renewable resource is more extensive in different global societies. Notably, in standard engines, the use of coconut oil is prospective, due to its low cost. Coconut oil has higher viscosity than the normal engine in the same temperature. Coconut oil is also used to obtain the advantages of this type of engine is the flexibility of fuel while additional cost is low as well. Biodiesel consists of vegetable oil or coconut oil, which are considered as very standardized diesel forms. Biofuel is produced through coconut oil, which subsequently reacts with an alcohol. The widespread use of coconut oil, as a replacement of diesel, can enable it to derive a wide range of benefits for environment. One of the key benefits, which can be presented as an instrument for the extensive use, can be identified with reference to the fact that coconut oil, as a renewable resource is the consideration of CO2. It is in this context that because CO2 is stored in coconuts along with its husks, and in the shells, the product functions well as a renewable energy source (Diaz, 2004). Furthermore, it is used in the process of production of coconut oil and in burning of oil. Mixing of coconut oil with diesel is another advantage of coconut oil, as it helps in decreasing the costs per/km. Subsequently, through three ways coconut and coconut husks can be developed into renewable resources. Firstly, coconut oil can be used as bio diesel to generate electricity. Secondly, coconut shell and husk can be used in biomass converter to produce gas, following which, this type of gas can be used in gas turbines to produce electricity along with heat. Thirdly, conversion of coconut shell into charcoal gas is used for cooking and heating. Contextually, it can be stated that there are two options to transform coconut oil into electricity. One of these options is chemical process, which utilizes standardized method to transform the coconut oil into electricity. The equipment, which is used for making the coconut bio-diesel is not highly expensive to purchase, beside being easy to be used. The second option is to directly burn the coconut oil to generate electricity, which is more preferred rather than the first option, because methanol, that is involved in the first option to generate the electricity, is not obtainable in rural villages (Bradley & et. al., 2006). The production of coconut oil is also extremely high than the other vegetable oils, such sunflower oil and soybean oil among others. As renewable resources, the use of coconut oil should be maintainable in the long-term in villages, which is produced from coconuts and is readily obtainable in villages. However, the additional costs of coconut oil are mostly paid in wage basis to the people of the villages (Bawalan & Chapman, 2006). This also enables to create employment along with permitting more individuals to help to generate electricity. Another advantage of this particular resource is its maximum utilization point, as one liter production of coconut oil produces 10 coconut shells and husks, which are used as fuel and can also be transformed into other value-added goods. Coconut shells have a specific importance, as it can be used for many important purposes (Cloin, 2003). It is a very important source of cooking fuel. The husks, which are wasted from the production of coconut oil, also can be used as fuel. Coconut oil is also used as cure for HIV/AIDS disease. These are various reasons for development of coconut oil as a renewable resource in 2050 (Puotinen, 2005; Dayrit, 2000). Reflective Analysis and Conclusions From the above discussion and analysis of coconut oil and its prospective development oil as a renewable resource in 2050, it can therefore be determined that coconut oil is a highly productive renewable resource and the demand of it cannot be exhausted. It signifies that the use of coconut oil cannot be reduced, rather it may be increased by a considerable extent in global societies. It can also be observed that coconut oil is used as a biofuel or bio diesel in standardized engines. Therefore, the role of business comes into reckoning significantly, as businesses can certainly focus more on this sort of use, which in turn can reduce environmental damages and ensure quality of life for both local and global communities. It can also be stated that coconut oil is also used for generating electricity. The shells and husks are the important parts of coconut, which can also be used for many purposes. For example, coconut shells are the source of cooking fuel and husks are used as fuel. Besides, the production of coconut oil is very high, rather than other vegetables oils, such as soybean oil and sunflower oil among others. As CO2 is stored in coconuts shells along with husks among others, it can be used in the production of oil. Therefore, from the point of view of businesses, it can be recommended that they should aim to focus more on using coconut oil driven sources, which can enable them to not only ensure greater stability to environment, but will also enable them to maintain their business sustainability as well. References Adkins, W. S. & et. al., 2006. Proceedings of the International Coconut Forum held in Cairns, Australia. Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, pp. 1-103. Bawalan, D. D. & Chapman, R. K. 2006. Production Manual for Micro and Village Scale Processing. Virgin Coconut Oil, pp. 1-80. Bradley, L.W. & et. al., 2006. Cocos Nucifera: An Abundant Renewable Source of Energy. Baylor University, pp. 1-5. Cloin, J., 2003. Coconut Oil as a Biofuel in Pacific Islands. Coconut Oil as a biofuel in Pacific Islands, pp. 1-5. Dayrit, S. C., 2000. Coconut Oil in Health and Disease: Its and Monolaurin’spotential As Cure For Hiv/Aids. National Academy of Science and Technology, pp. 1-12. Diaz, R. S., 2004. Coconut for Clean Air. Asian Institute of Petroleum Studies, Inc., pp. 1-7. Green Fuels Ltd, 2012. Sustainability. Why Green Fuels? [Online] Available at: http://greenfuels.co.uk/why-green-fuels/sustainability/ [Accessed November 20, 2014]. Krishna, G. & et. al., 2010. Coconut Oil: Chemistry, Production and Its Applications- A Review. Indian Coconut Journal, pp. 15-27. Puotinen, J. C., 2005. Virgin” Or Unrefined, This Healthy Oil Has Multiple Benefits for Your dog. Belvoir Publications, Inc., pp. 1-5. Schardt, D., 2012. Lose Weight? Cure Alzheimer’s? Clog Your Arteries. Nutrition Action Healthletter, pp. 10-11. Vasudevan, M. D., 2009. Coronary Artery Disease (Atherosclerosis) -An Overview & The Role of Coconut Oil In hypercholesterolemia. Health, pp. 2-16. Read More