Characterization of Acacia mangium Species for Biomass Energy Sources

The aim of this study was to determine and compare the biomass energy properties of Acacia mangium species accordingly to small diameter stem (DBH 5 - 8cm) with three (3) different portions (bottom, middle, top) and two (2) different particle sizes (0.5mm and 1.5mm). The analysis conducted to determine the properties of raw material of Acacia mangium as biomass energy sources were proximate analysis, physical analysis and energy content testing. For the proximate analysis, the moisture content, volatile matter, ash content and fixed carbon of the Acacia mangium wood particles were determined. In physical analysis, the testing included are the bulk density and specific gravity. In order to determine whether Acacia mangium possess the potential as biomass energy sources, the calorific value of Acacia mangium was identified by conducted the energy content testing. The result obtained for the energy content testing of Acacia mangium has a mean calorific value range from 16.35 MJ/Kg to 18.35 MJ/Kg between portions and particle sizes. In order to determine and correlate the effect of portions and particle sizes on each of the proximate analysis, physical analysis and energy content, the two - way ANOVA and correlation coefficient was performed. The result obtained from the two - way ANOVA, it shows that both the portions and particle sizes have significant effect on calorific value of Acacia mangium at 99% of confidence level. In this study, the result obtained shows that the moisture content has negative correlation with the calorific value at 99% confidence level. The volatile matter has no significant correlation with the calorific value as the P-value > 0.05. The ash content with the calorific value has no significant correlation. The fixed carbon content shows that a positive correlation exists with the calorific value are significant at the 95% confidence level. In a nutshell, the biomass energy properties of Accaia mangium with different portions and particle sizes was being determined.