Coconut shell and its valuable potential uses

Coconut (Cocos nucifera) is a member of the palm family and is highly regarded in India for its several culinary and non-culinary uses. It is believed that every part of the coconut tree (palm) has some human use, especially the fruit, which has three main parts. The external fibrous husk called coir, the intermediate hardest stone called shell and the white fleshy edible core called endosperm. Scientifically, these are called as mesocarp, endocarp and endosperm, respectively. The core endosperm is the edible portion for which the coconut cultivation is principally undertaken the coir is used in the manufacture of ropes, as washing pad or cushioning material in household purposes. The shell makes up to 15–20% of coconut and has not well identified use, hence is invariably disposed (Sarki et al. 2011).