Shell – Coque de la noix

©R. Bourdeix, 2021, section CCS. 

For illustrating this section, we can produce on request at least 14 large size HD posters (up to 180x100 cm in size). These posters should be adapted to each country, on a case-by-case basis, in order to prominently feature locally produced coconut products, and to promote the marketing of these local products. It is also possible to buy or rent coconut shell items from the personal collection of Dr R. Bourdeix.

Botanically, the coconut fruit is a drupe, not a true nut. Like other fruits, it has three layers: the exocarp, mesocarp, and endocarp. The exocarp is the glossy outer skin, usually yellow-green to yellow-brown in color. The mesocarp is composed of a fibre, called coir, which has many traditional and commercial uses. Both the exocarp and the mesocarp make up the "husk" of the coconut, while the endocarp makes up the hard coconut "shell".

1.CCSH. Shell Handicraft - Artisanat à base de coque
         1.CCSHB. Simple containers - Récipients simples
         2.CCSHC. Carved without metal - Sculpté sans metal
         3.CCSHM. Bronze mounted - Monté sur bronze
         4.CCSHG. With gold or silver - Avec Or ou argent
         5.CCSHP. Bugbear powder flask - Poires à poudre
2.CCSJ. Shell Jewellery - Bijouterie
         1.CCSJE. Earrings - boucles d’oreille
         2.CCSJN. Necklace - Collier
         3.CCSJO. Other Jewels - Autres bijoux
3.CCSC. Charcoal and fuel - Charbon et combustible
4.CCSF. Shell Freaks - Raretés botaniques
5.CCSO. Other shell uses - Autres usages de la coque

If I had to give an opinion, among all the kinds of handicrafts concerning the coconut tree, I would say that the one based on the coconut shell is the most diverse and the most creative, followed by the handicrafts based on the coconut husk . Even if the shell imposes the shape, ovoid or round, or mosaic of small parts, this shape is highly symbolic. It evokes the egg or the breast of women and faxines the creators.

The endocarp is around 4 to 7 mm thick. Three sunken holes of softer tissue, called ‘eyes’, are at one end of the nut (peduncle size). Two of the pores are plugged (the "eyes"), while one is functional. Coconut shell is very resistant and sometimes categorized as hard wood but has higher lignin content and lower cellulose content when compared to most of other woods.

An analysis of Coconut shell composition gave 27.7% pentose, cellulose 26.6%, lignin 29.4%, water 8%, extraction solvent 4.2%, uronate anhydrous 3.5%, and ash 0.6%.


Coconut shell in general is often used as handicrafts, fuels, and raw materials for activated charcoal.







In the process of making charcoal from wood biomass, waste produces smoke, and this smoke can be condensed to a liquid which have interesting chemical and medicinal properties. In the case of coconut, such pyrolysis process produces a dark brown liquid with an average pH value of 3. Forty heigh chemical components were identified at 300°C, the largest component being Acetic acid at 39.98%.


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