Information regarding physical properties of bamboo is essential for interpreting its dimensional stability, while drying properties are needed as a basis in determining the optimum drying temperature. This research was aimed to investigate the effect of bamboo species and position at the culm on physical properties, as well as drying properties of five bamboo species i.e. temen bamboo (Gigantochloa verticillata Munro), ori (Bambusa blumeana Bl. ex Schult.f.), ater (Gigantochloa atter (Hassk.) Kurz ex Munro), ampel (Bambusa vulgaris Schrad.), and peting (Gigantochloa levis (Blanco) Merr.). Physical properties were tested by measuring diameter and thickness of bamboo culms. Determination of drying temperature was carried out in accordance with wood drying method and followed by observing visual defects, i.e. deformation (concave & wrinkle) and end/node split. Assessment results revealed that there were close relationships between green moisture content of bamboo and their density as well as their culm shrinkage. Based on bamboo drying properties (bottom-middle portions), the optimum drying temperatures (initial and final temperature) for temen and ori were occurred at 45 – 70 C, ampel and ater were occurred at 40 – 60 C, while the optimum drying temperature for peting were at 33 50 C.

There are about 4,000 timber producing trees grow naturally in Indonesia, which comprise of commercially and lesser- known wood species. Wood chemical component analysis is one indicator for timber utilization. This paper studies the chemical components of five lesser-known wood species originated from West Java namely ki bugang (Arthophyllum diversifolium Bl.), sempur lilin (Dillenia obovata Hoogl.), cangcaratan (Lithocarpus sundaicus Bl.), ki pasang (Prunus javanica Miq ), and ki langir (Othophora spectabilis Bl). The analysis was conducted according to the testing standard of Norman Jenkin, Indonesian National Standard (SNI) and TAPPI. Results show that Ki bugang has the highest content of both of cellulose and pentosan about 52.57% and 21,37%, respectively. Cangcaratan wood has the highest lignin content about 31.84 %. Ki langir has the highest solubility in cold water, alcohol benzene and NaOH about 3.34%, 2.75%, and 22.17%, respectively. In addition, sempur lilin has the highest solubility in hot water about 8.56%. The highest ash content is 3.60% belongs to Ki langir and the highest silica content is 1.92% belongs to sempur lilin. Based on the chemical content, cangcaratan wood is recomended for pulp and energy purposes and ki bugang wood is recommended for bio-ethanol.

Rattan utilization is mainly determined by its physical and mechanical characteristics of density and tensile strength, where the higher the physical and mechanical properties, the better quality of the cane. In South East Asia region including Indonesia, two of eight genera, Calamus and Daemonorops are classified into high economic value, however the physical and mechanical characteristic of lesser known rattan species has not been studied intensively. This paper classifies 23 of lesser known rattan species into four classes based on its density and tensile strength parallel to Density was measured based on gravimetric method and tensile strength parallel to grain was tested using Universal Testing Machine (UTM). Results show that in term of physical and mechanical properties, one species belongs to class I (ver y good), twelve species are classified into class II(good) and III (moderate). Ten rattan species are grouped into class IV (poor). Among 23 rattan species, highly recommended commercial rattan species are Calamus holttumii Furt., Calamus nematospadix Becc., and Korthalsia celebica Becc. While, Calamus sp., Korthalsia rostrata Blume and Daemonorops sabut Becc are less

All kinds of ligno-cellulose fiber stuffs are technically suitable for hardboard manufacture. In Indonesia, currently the available conventional ligno-cellulose fibers (esp. tropical natural-forest woods) become scarce and depleted. Meanwhile, domestic fiberboard-production is lower than its demands. Alternative fibers, abundantly potential and largely still unutilized, should be introduced, e.g. bamboo. Research on bamboo utilization for hardboard has been carried out using two bamboo species i.e. tali bamboo (Gigantochloa apus) and ampel bamboo (Bambusa vulgaris). Each bamboo species was pulped using open hot-soda semi-chemical process. Five proportions of bamboo pulp mixtures were prepared from tali-bamboo pulp and ampel-bamboo pulps i.e: 100%+0%, 75%+25%, 50%+50%, 25%+75%, and 0%+100%. Tannin-resorcinol-formaldehyde (TRF) adhesive was added to each bamboo pulp mixtures at three different resin contents, i.e. 0%, 6% and 8% based on dry weight of the bamboo pulp mixture. Bamboo hardboards were manufactured using wet- forming process and the resulted boards were then tested for their physical and mechanical properties. Results showed that addition of TRF (up to 8%) improved hardboard properties. Hardboard made from the ampel-bamboo pulp (100%) produced the highest hardboard quality, as its properties mostly conform with the standards (JIS and ISO) requirements for density, modulus of elasticity (MOE), modulus of rupture (MOR) and internal bond (IB); while hardboards made from tali-bamboo pulp (100%) possessed the lowest quality. Hardboard from tali-bamboo pulp and ampel-bamboo pulp mixture (at 50%+50% and 25% + 75% proportions) afforded the second and third performances. The least prospective tali-bamboo pulp (100%) could expectedly be improved by using more TRF.

Currently, commercial wood finish products are predominantly chemical solvent-based, such as melamine formaldehyde and nitrocelulose. Although these products give desirable quality, durable and affordable cost, their volatile organic compounds are detrimental to the environmental and harmful to the health. This paper studies the use of teak extract mixed with shellac as alternative top coat or wood stain. Quality of the alternative formula was tested on tusam and rubber wood by assessing their physical, mechanical and chemical performances in comparison with the commercial products, i.e. melamine formaldehyde (MF) and nitrocellulose (NS). Samples of two wood species were treated by dipping them in various wood finishing solutions. Weight and dimensional changes due to the treatment were determined in wet and dry sample conditions. Results showed that weight and dimensional gains due to dipping treatment were varied according to wood species, grain orientation and finishing solution. Tusam samples possed greater weight and dimensional gains than those of rubber wood samples. All organic finishing formulas were able to protect wood from water intrution, however they were less effective than the commercial MF and NS. Top coat made from the mixture of teak extract and shellac has lower scratch resistance and less resistant against chemical liquids than the commercial MF and NS. Wood stain of teak extract and shellac mixture provided better color value than the commercial wood stain in term of color likeness to the true teak.

Carbon pellet is a charcoal product made from carbonized biomass which is crushed into fine powder and compacted into pellet. Carbon pellets is designed for renewable energy alter natives for cooking , the combustion process and the possibilities for steam power plants as a substitute for coal. This paper studies the quality of carbon pellet made from a mixture of elephant grass with nyamplung shell. After carbonization, the elephant grass and nyamplung seed shell were crushed into 60 mesh powder for pellet with various ratio of elephant grass charcoal and nyamplung shell charcoal namely 100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75, and 0:100 homogenously. Ten percent PVAC adhesive was added into the mixture prior to compression.Results show that the mixture composition of 75% elephant grass charcoal and 25% nyamplung shell charcoal is recommended for carbon pellet. The mixture composition improved physical properties with the average of 3.35% water content, 26.19% volatile matter, 13.59% ash content, 60.21% carbon bound, 0.68 kg/cm density, 5.91 kg/cm compressive strength and calorific value of 6080 cal/g.

Carbon pellet is a charcoal product made from carbonized biomass which is crushed into fine powder and compacted into pellet. Carbon pellets is designed for renewable energy alter natives for cooking , the combustion process and the possibilities for steam power plants as a substitute for coal. This paper studies the quality of carbon pellet made from a mixture of elephant grass with nyamplung shell. After carbonization, the elephant grass and nyamplung seed shell were crushed into 60 mesh powder for pellet with various ratio of elephant grass charcoal and nyamplung shell charcoal namely 100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75, and 0:100 homogenously. Ten percent PVAC adhesive was added into the mixture prior to compression.Results show that the mixture composition of 75% elephant grass charcoal and 25% nyamplung shell charcoal is recommended for carbon pellet. The mixture composition improved physical properties with the average of 3.35% water content, 26.19% volatile matter, 13.59% ash content, 60.21% carbon bound, 0.68 kg/cm density, 5.91 kg/cm compressive strength and calorific value of 6080 cal/g.