Inorganic Coffee Chaff Based Board

Studied Forestry, Timber and Material Technology; Forest Industry Technology; Wood Science; Bio-Resources Technology. Became a Professor in 2010 and HOD in 2012. Supervised undergraduate and PG students. Research focuses on Forestry and Wood Technology; Environmental management; bio-resources utilization for panel production, enhance healthy environment, check waterways siltation, eradicate poverty and climatic resilience. Presented research products in North-America, South-America, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and Antarctica. Exhibit on Innovative Wood Products, 68th session/2011 International Year of Forest, FAO/UNECE/SWST Geneva; meeting of eminent scientists at XXIII IUFRO World Congress Seoul; UN Framework Conference on Climate Change, Durbar, 2011; Doha, 2012; Centenary Forest Product Laboratory, US; University of Gottingen, Germany, 2008; 2017 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, UN DESA Partnership Exchange-Eradicating Poverty and Promoting Prosperity in a Changing World; HESI-Higher Education Institution-Key Driver of the SDG; Global Landscape Forum, 2017, Bonn, Germany. Initiate collaboration between FUTA and Brazilian institutions. Senior Expert to CTA.

Coffee chaff constitute a major environmental pollutant. Tons of these post harvest residue are improperly disposed on a daily basis in landfills or  by burning. This state has brought serious damages to the environments in terms of pollution (water, air and soil) and disease outbreak. 

The objective is to develop panel products from coffee chaff using Portland cement as binder with simple, affordable and adaptable technology. The coffee chaff is processed into flakes, screened to remove impurities, and treated in hot water to remove the superfluous materials capable of inhibiting the setting and curing of the binder. The flakes, binder and additive is mixed, pre-pressed and pressed in a mould to form the final board. 

The panel can stand as an alternatives to wood products in housing, electronics and automobile components. The products is environmentally friendly, promote sustainable development goals, end poverty, increase prosperity, reduce pollution and mitigate climate change. 

The project is designed to address the following problems:

1. Environmental Problem - pollution, flooding, siltation of waterways and ocean.

2. Climate Change - Global warming caused by Over-exploitation of forest resources will be mitigated.

3. Poverty - sales of the large volume of wastes generated from post harvest processing can be converted to valuable product to generate additional income which will increase their taste for variety of food materials to enhance their wellness and healthy living.

4. Food Insecurity - reduced profitability of agricultural venture due to the large volumes of residues have discouraged investment in the sector thereby resulting in food scarcity.

5. Housing - High cost of construction materials, deficiency in the supply of valuable, economic and well known wood species will be minimized through the use of agricultural residue in the development of alternative value-added panel products

6. Obsolete Engineering and Architectural design - Inadequate modern technology in wood wastes management, processing and utilization will be promoted.

7. Destruction of Forest ecosystem/biodiversity - Deforestation and degradation during exploitation of wood for use in construction, furniture, automobile etc, will be minimized.

8. Carbon Emission - Carbon dioxide given-off during burning of agricultural residues will be greatly reduced.

The project provides a green technological solution that transform coffee chaff flakes combined in proportionate ratio with portland cement into a product that can conveniently complement the provision of wood products and meet the demand for affordable construction materials for core and low cost housing in rural and urban areas, and other emerging industires.

This innovative production process mitigate the detrimental effect of improper disposal and burning of agricultural residue. The product is produced by combining required quantities of processed coffee chaff, cement and additives at different ratio and densities depending on the intended area of utilization. The various components will be mixed and formed inside a mould, pre-pressed and pressed into final board thickness. thereafter demoulded and conditioned in a controlled environment.

The product is an eco-friendly and can be used in various applications e.g. partitioning, furniture components, interiors, ceiling and more. The material can be molded into different dimension to suit intended applications, can be machined easily and comes in different colors.

This project is working to directly and meaningfully impact the agrarian community, rural and urban dwellers. These agrarian community whose economy is based on producing and maintaining crops and farmland are in constant search of ways to increase their profitability and reduce wastes generated from post harvest processing. Rural and Urban community are faced with the dire need of durable, affordable and sustainable construction materials due to the increasing cost of conventional materials.

These project seeks to understand the volume, nature and type of residues generated from various agricultural crops at different post-harvest processing stage and how these residues can be transformed into valuable products capable of generating additional income.

The beneficiaries include rural farmers, rural and urban dwellers, industries and climate change advocates. The project will address the needs of these various people by transforming wastes/residues to wealth; provides affordable construction materials, provides raw materials for construction industries (electronic, automobiles etc), and mitigate climate change. 

This project aims to solve some of the most difficult challenges facing our world, and this include: housing, poverty, food insecurity and climate change. By pursuing this project, people will become aware of the possibility of using valueless agricultural residues in the development of durable panel products. By so doing, materials will be available for housing construction and will results in reduced pressure on the forest thereby mitigating climate change. It will generate additional income for rural farmers and lift families out of poverty through the trade of these residues. Farmers will be encouraged to produce more food crops.

The rate of forest exploitation exceeds rate of forest regeneration and enrichment planting of the existing forest. Despite the introduction of taungya farming whereby farmers plants arable crops along with forestry crops for 3 years inside gazetted forest reserve. This concept could not enrich the forest as desired but turned the 500+ species forest to a one species forests. The farmers often move into adjoining forest to collect wildlings of economic tree species for use as yam stake and making the forest devoid of valuable tree species.

As a result of these continuing unfavourable actions in the forest, I foresee a deficiency in wood products supply to industries (furniture, building, automobiles etc). In order to avert this deficiency in wood products supply worldwide, I therefore investigated the suitability of agricultural wastes and weeds in the production of panel products using cement, plastic and car battery case as binder to serve as alternative to sawn timber in various applications.

The project started in 1980 when I developed resin bonded particleboard from maize stalk. Due to the high cost of resin, I changed focus by using cement, plastic and car battery case which can be obtained locally with little or no cost.

My growing passion in the manufacture of bio-composite panel products is largely due to:

• The availability of the major raw materials, (Agricultural by-products, cement,  additives, water) found locally;
• Simplicity of its manufacturing technology;
• The availability to small scale entrepreneurship;
• Increase farmer’s income and alleviate poverty; 
• Increase raw materials supplies for construction industries; 
• Create job opportunities for low and high income earners; 
• Increase food production; 
• Reduce pressure on and protect forest resources biodiversities; 
• Develop innovative science and technology in engineering, architectural designs and building mega structures; 
• Produce innovations in products manufacturing, processing and utilization;
• Inadequate housing materials in Nigeria to meet such shortages;
• High resistance to termites, insects and fungi attack; moisture, freezing, fire;
•  Good insulating properties, durability, nailability; and
• Non-aggressive and non-contagious nature of dust derived from the process.

As a professor of Wood Products and Bioresources Technology, my research focuses on the use of  conventional biomaterials (Wood) and non-conventional bio-materials from agricultural wastes, common weeds, waste paper and other wastes prevalent in Nigeria and world environment to produce panel products using Portland cement, pozzolan, virgin plastic, recycled plastic, and car battery case as binders through the application of simple, innovative and adaptable technologies in the manufacturing processes. Such affordable value-added products can be used for core and low cost housing. Over the years, I have trained students in undergraduate, masters and PhD level on the subject area.

In recognition of my innovative research, I was awarded the best innovative researcher for Local Raw Materials Content by the Raw Materials Research and Development Council of the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology at the TECHNO-EXPO 2011 in Abuja, Nigeria. My research products has been displayed worldwide viz-a-viz Exhibit on Innovative Wood Products during the 68th session of the UNECE/FAO/SWST/2011 International Year of the Forest at the UN Office Geneva, Switzerland. I attended a small gathering of eminent scientists during the XXIII IUFRO World Congress, 2010 called by CIFOR. I have attended other notable world gatherings of eminent scientists and environmental conservationists such as the World Forestry Congress in Quebec, Canada in 2003; Buenos Aires, Argentina, 2009; the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Durbar, South Africa, 2011 and Doha, Qatar, 2012.  

I have also presented research works in many countries in different continent of the world.

I grew up under the complexities of Africa setting right from the beginning. I was born in the forest, raised in the forest, obtain primary and secondary education in the forest. I gained admission into the higher institution and obtained a degree in forestry related discipline. I grew up with the intimidation of the complexities of the African Society.

As a result, I became toughened to face any challenge that arose over time. During the early stage of my career advancement, I was faced with financial challenges. I had to work as a child to sponsor my education. When I was about to obtain a Higher National Diploma, I knew that for me to move forward in my academic career, I had to stand out and develop a novel product that brought me financial support to further my education. In 1982, I developed a Novel resin bonded particleboard from maize stalk. It was with this innovative research product that prompted the award of British Government Scholarship under the bilateral agreement with the Nigerian Government to study in the UK. I came back to Nigeria with a Masters Degree.

I started playing the role of a leader right from a very young age when I initiated a football team at the secondary school level. Later on in life, I co-founded the establishment of Social Elite Club in my home town. Promote cultural values and Ideal in my community.

I served as the HOD of Forestry and Wood Technology Dept., FUTA, Nigeria between 2012 and 2015. During the time which I achieved numerous laudable feats for the Departments. 

I facilitated the collaboration on academic and cultural interchange agreement between the Federal University of Technology Akure, Nigeria and Federal University of Lavras, and University of Sao Paulo, Brazil, respectively.

I am currently the Maiden Chairman of Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit, Federal University of Technology Akure, Nigeria.

The products proved to be suitable alternative to sawn timber and other panel products after the evaluation of the strength, dimensional movement and accelerated ageing properties. The panel products use less energy in production, cheaper to produce, better insulation, more durable, recyclable, smooth and fanciful faces and resistant against termite and insect attack. 

The project is currently in the developmental stage. However, the concept has served over 1000 undergraduate and graduate students. The concept has been used by these students and researchers to develop a prototype of panel product that can serve as alternative to wood product in construction industries, interiors and automobile industries. Students from other institution have also benefitted from the concept through collaboration and sabattical placements.

Upon commercialization and scaling, the project is expected to directly and meaningfully affect over 100,000 individuals to include farmers who will supply post harvest processing residues and get paid for it; labourers and technician that will be involved in the production process and receive wages for it; sales representative that will help in the sales and distribution of the finished product and gain profit from it; and finally the end users who will get the panel products at a much more affordable price.

Farmers will be supported in the establishment of the crops by providing them with required funds and farm input. After, harvesting of farm produce, residues will be purchased from these farmers for use in the development of value added panel product.

The goals is to produce a durable and affordable value added panel product from valueless agricultural residues and which is widely accepted by the populace and can suitably replace wood product in numerous applications. This will be achieved by investigating the suitability of various agricultural residues by testing its strength, stiffness, dimensional movement, and accelerated ageing. The tests will reveal the strenght and durability capability of the produced panel and suggest the suitable area of utilization.

After the Determination of the suitability, properties and area of utilization of the produced board, the concept will be commercialize and the general public will be sensitized on the investment in the production and utilization of the product.

The major challenges to the actualization of this project include:

1. Shortage of Finance - inadequacy of funds required in the procurement of equipments, raw materials, and payment of labour wages is a major challenge to the realization of the goal of this project. 

2. Technical Knowhow - technical knowledge in the specialize area of sourcing, collection and utilization of wastes for the production of value added panel product is another major challenge. 

3. Inadequate knowledge: The farmers, contractors, and the general public are unaware of the possibility of utilizing agricultural residue for the production of value added panel product that can be use to subtitute wood product in numerous applications. This might adversely affect the acceptance of the product in the market. 

Shortage of finance will be overcome by sourcing for funds in the form of grant, awards and loan from financial institutions to start off the project. The project will later on be sustained by the proceeds accruable from the sales of the panel products and consultancy services rendered.

Technical knowhow will be overcomed by partnering with relevant research institutions and professional bodies that have requisite knowledge in the subject area. These research institutes and professional bodies will aid in the training of workforce that will be used in this project.

Inadequate knowledge on the part of farmers, contractors and general public will be overcome through sensitization. Seminars, workshops, conferences, demonstration and mass media will be effective to overcome this challenge.

Forestry Reserch Institute of Nigeria;

University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria;

University of Sao Paulo, Pirassunuga SP, Brazil;

Society of Wood Science and Technology (SWST);

International Inorganic Bonded Composite Conference (IIBCC); and

Forest Products Society

Creation of awareness on the suitability of raw materials and value addition to waste for increased prosperity.

Program, product, service or technology - Development of Panel Product from Agricultural residue, Value Added Panels, Construction Materials, Simple and Adaptable Technology.

How do you provide these programs, product, service or technology - By Sourcing, collection, processing and utilization of agricultural residues for use in Panel production.

Why does the Community Want or Need them - The need for appropriate means of utilizing agricultural residue, Need to generate additional income, need for durable and affordable construction materials, Need for core and low cost housing, need for economic gain wellness and good health.

The projects looks forward to receiving grant from awarding body to upscale and commercialize the product. Thereafter, it will be sustained by the proceed accrueable from the sales of products and services.

The project is currently in the developmental stage and has not raised any funds yet.

Funding Amount Needed: $ 300,000

Funding Type: Grant, Award and Loans

When fund is Expected: Depending on awarding body

Note: The project is still at the rudimentary stage on the investigative characterization and development of a sound valuable product to meet the standard required in the construction industry. 

After the investigative characterization, the project will therefore be commercialize in another phase in which funds will be raised Nationally and Internationally from financial institutions to support the establishement of the project.

Not Yet Computed. The research on the project is still on-going

I am applying to The Elevate Prize because it is strategically positioned to support the development of these project in order to create job opportunities; provide avenue for eradication of poverty; ensure food security; increase prosperity and wellness in the world. 

I have been longing for co-existence relationship with the organizations in the establishment of developmental project that is capable of:  curbing environmental pollution and siltation of water ways; converting waste materials (biological and non-biological) to value added products thereby Promoting sustainable use of natural resources; increasing prosperity; restoration of economic mother trees for seed production; creating a new orientation in design, technology and industrial development in sourcing, processing, manufacturing and utilization of raw materials and new products.

The Elevate Prize can help overcome the barrier of Funding, Technical knowhow and Inadequate knowledge of the Populace. These can be achieved by funding the project,  educational training, capacity building, and connection with influencers, industry leaders, and experts through Elevate Prize Foundation’s two-year program and tailored media and marketing campaign.

The partnership goal of this project is to partner with organizations that will be able to: support the project financially in the form of grants, award and/or loans; connect the project with expert and professionals in the subject area; and create awareness campaign for the project.

Youth Organizations will also form a very important partner for this project because they will provide the energetic workforce required for the realization of the project's objectives. Skilled and Unskilled youths will be useful in the project. The unskilled youth will be trained on the job and will be instrumental to the smooth running of processes. The skilled youth will be involved in policy formulation, new orientation in design, technology, innovation and industrial development in sourcing, processing, manufacturing and utilization of raw materials and new products.  

The Elevate Prize: The prize can support the project through funding, educational training, capacity building, and connection with professionals, and tailored media and marketing campaign.