PENGARUH PERLAKUAN BAHAN BAKU DAN TEKANAN PENGEMPAAN PADA PEMBUATAN BRIKET BIOARANG DARI PELEPAH SALAK (SALACCA EDULIS) SEBAGAI BAHAN BAKAR ALTERNATIF

Abstract

The energy crisis resulted from the increasing of fossil fuel consumption forces us to find energy alternative sources. Biomass is one of environment friendly renewable alternative energy resources which its utilization nowdays has not been optimal. Biomass represent the substance involve which usually considered as garbage and often annihilated by burned. In fact the biomass can be processed become the bio-char briquette which have high heating value and can be used in daily life. This research conducted by the making of charcoal briquette made from salacca (Salacca edulis) stem waste. Parameter studied began by treatment of raw materials and compaction pressure. The process started by carbonization of salacca stem waste bark in metal kiln until become the charcoal. Then the result was mixed with the starch powder which was added with water and heated until it changed become pasta that later become a glue with the ratio of charcoal 10 kg : water 10 kg : starch powder 1 kg. And then it was pressed by using a screw press until it changed become briquette. Next, that briquette was tested its physical and chemical characteristics such as : moisture content, ash content, carbon content, hardness, and the heating value. The result of this research showed that generally the treatment towards trunks/branches could produce the physical and chemical characteristics which is better than other treatments. At the optimal condition resulted briquette with characteristics : moisture content 4,5687%, ash content 19,85%, fixed carbon 36,332%, volatile matter 39,25% and heating value 5.250,87 kal/g.