Analysis of Physical and Chemical Properties of Dammar Resin as an Alternative Fuel

Abstract

Efforts to obtain alternative and renewable energy continue to be carried out sustainably. Various natural materials continue to be studied for their feasibility in using alternative and renewable fuels. One of the natural materials that have the potential as a source of renewable energy is dammar resin (Shorea Javanica k. et v.). Therefore, it is necessary to analyze dammar resin's physical and chemical properties to determine its potential as an alternative fuel. This study evaluates dammar resin's physical and chemical properties as a renewable energy source. In this research, the physical and chemical properties of dammar resin were investigated related to its function as an alternative fuel compared to other alternative fuels. This study also aims to determine the advantages and disadvantages of dammar resin's physical and chemical properties as an alternative fuel. The American Society for Testing and Materials standard (ASTM), International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and the American Oil Chemists Society standard (AOCS) methods have been adopted to analyze the physical and chemical properties of dammar resins. This study's physical and chemical properties were cloud point, pour point, flash point, density, energy content, ash content, sulfur content, iodine value, saponification value, and cetane number. The result indicates that based on the physical and chemical property analysis, dammar resin has potency as a renewable energy source and can be developed as an alternative fuel. Dammar resin has a low flash point, sulfur content, and iodine value but a high saponification value and cetane number; these values have met European requirements. Moreover, the energy content of dammar resin is lower, and the ash content is higher than other biodiesel materials. However, dammar resin still requires advanced processes to be converted as alternative energy because it still has a high density, cloud, and pour point.