PENGARUH VARIASI UKURAN SERBUK (MESH) DAN PERSENTASE PEREKAT TAPIOKA TERHADAP SIFAT FISIK PELLET KAYU GELAM

Abstract

Utilization of the potential of biomass found in South Kalimantan with abundant raw materials, one of which is gelam wood which can be used as boiler fuel for steam power plants to reduce the use of coal fossil fuels. Gelam wood is processed into wood pellets using tapioca flour adhesive. The gelam wood pellet then carried out tests in the form of testing physical properties which included water content, ash content, volatile matter content, fixed carbon content, and calorific value. Wood pellets made from gelam were made using various sizes of powder (mesh) 40, 50, and 60 as well as using tapioca adhesive (percentage of adhesive 5%, 10%, and 15%. The gelam wood pellets were then tested for physical properties to determine their performance. The test results showed that wood pellets increased in moisture content, ash content, and volatile matter content along with the smaller size of gelam wood powder (mesh). While the carbon content and calorific value of wood pellets decreased along with the smaller size of the gelam wood powder (mesh). The addition of tapioca adhesive characteristics affect the physical properties of wood pellets, the higher the percentage of adhesive, the water content, volatile matter content, and ash content increase. Meanwhile, the addition of adhesive to wood pellets causes a decrease in carbon and calorific value.