Characteristics of Charcoal Briquette from the Skin Waste of Areca catechu Fruit with Various Compositions of Adhesive Types

Abstract

The increase in energy demand requires the search for alternative energy. One of the potential alternative energies is charcoal briquette that could utilize biomass waste. This study aimed to determine the characteristics of charcoal briquettes from the waste of Areca catechu fruit. This research used a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with five treatments and five replications and then continued with Duncan's New Multiple Range Test (DNMRT) at a level of 5%. The treatment applied was the composition of starch and sago adhesive with ratios of 5% : 0% (P1), 0% : 5% (P2), 3% : 2% (P3), 2,5% : 2,5% (P4), and 2% : 3% (P5). The result showed that the skin waste of Areca catechu fruit could be used as raw material for charcoal briquettes. The average moisture content and calorific value met the minimum requirement of SNI with an average value of 3.8% and 5602.18 cal/g, respectively. The results revealed that only P1 could meet the minimum requirement of SNI for volatile content, carbon ash content, and carbon bounded content at 14.2%, 7.9%, and 77.8%, respectively. Consequently, the charcoal briquette that could meet SNI on all characteristics was using P1 (starch adhesive 5%: sago adhesive 0%).Keywords: Areca catechu, charcoal briquettes, sago adhesive, starch adhesive