WOOD PELLET CHARACTERISTICS OF FIVE WOOD ENERGY SPECIES GROWN IN POST MINING RECLAMATION AREA OF PT ADARO INDONESIA AT PARINGIN SITE, SOUTH KALIMANTAN

• Main Author: Bulkiah, Triah
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/39949
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Biomass is one of renewable sources of energy (bioenergy) with a prospect that needs to be considered at national, regional or even global scale. Wood biomass having certain characteristics can be used as bioenergy in the form of pellets. Wood pellets are made by compressing biomass using pressure and heat resulting in higher heating values than the original wood. Post coal mining reclamation forests can be seen as potential source of energy wood. However, considering the generally less-optimal environment condition of post-mining area, further research regarding characteristics of energy wood grown in such condition is required. This research aimed firstly to determine the characteristics of wood and pellets of five species currently grown at post coal-mining reclamation forests in PT Adaro Indonesia at Paringin site, i.e. laban (Vitex pinnata), sengon (Paraserianthes falcataria), sungkai (Peronema canescens), trembesi (Samanea saman) and johar (Senna siamea). Secondly was to evaluate the potential of those five species as wood energy resources. The measurement was focused on the branch and twig parts of tree. The measurement followed procedures set on SNI 80121-2014. The characteristics measured were water content, wood density, lignin and cellulose content, extractive substances, heat value, igniting time, and burning rate. The results of statistical analysis indicates that all physical and chemical characteristics of wood correlated with heating value of wood pellets produced except for moisture and ash content. Furthemore, the pellets made of laban had the highest calorific value. The five species grown on post-mining land had calorific values of wood pellets fulfilling the standard for energy wood as set by SNI 8021-2014. This means that those five species are potential to be developed as energy wood. Based on the overall wood and pellet characteristics, the potential to be utilized as energy wood from the highest to lowest are laban, sungkai, johar, trembesi and sengon, respectively.