Karakteristik Briket Kayu dari Tiga Jenis Cabang Kayu Mangrove yang Direkat dengan Perekat Pati

Abstract

Development and utilization of biomass energy in the form of wood briquettes is one of the efforts to reduce dependence on fossil fuels whose availability is decreasing and non-renewable. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the characteristics of wood briquettes made from mangrove wood branches and to analyze the effect of different species of mangrove wood branches and the types of starch adhesive on the properties of wood briquettes. The wood briquettes made in this study were 3 cm x 4 cm (diameter x height) in a cylindrical shape using three species of mangrove wood branches, namely mata buaya (Bruguiera sexangula), buta-buta (Excoecaria agallocha), and bakau minyak (Rhizophora apiculata), while the adhesives used were tapioca starch, maize starch, and potato starch. The characteristics of wood briquettes were evaluated by testing the physical, mechanical, chemical, and thermal properties. Furthermore, to evaluate the effect of the mangrove wood species and the type of starch adhesive on the properties of wood briquettes, a statistical analysis was carried out using a factorial Completely Randomized Design (CRD) and standardized regarding the ISO 17225-3:2-2020. The results showed that the moisture content and ash content of the wood briquettes mostly met the standard, and the calorific value of the wood briquettes met the standard. However, the density did not meet the standards. The results of the TGA analysis showed that all types of wood briquettes degraded at temperatures ranging from 30 - 748oC which consisted of three stages, and in the second stage (105 - 365oC) the weight loss of wood briquettes occurred with the largest percentage, which ranged from 45,37 – 55,74%. Wood briquettes made from mata buaya with the application of the three types of starch adhesives had better quality than all types of wood briquettes. In general, the use of starch adhesive in wood briquette production has a similar effect, particularly the use of maize starch and potato starch whose have had higher solid content. The interaction of mangrove wood species and the type of starch adhesive had a significant effect on the properties of wood briquettes, except for volatile matter and calorific value which had no significant effect.