Karakteristik Biobriket dari Frass Ulat Sutra Bombyx mori dan Sekam Padi Bakar sebagai Bahan Bakar Alternatif

Abstract

Frass ulat sutra (Bombyx mori) merupakan limbah organik yang berpotensi dimanfaatkan sebagai bahan bakar alternatif dalam bentuk biobriket. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengidentifikasi karakteristik fisik dan kimia biobriket serta mengevaluasi variasi komposisi frass dan sekam padi bakar yang terbaik dengan menggunakan perekat tepung tapioka. Biobriket dibuat dalam empat variasi rasio frass:sekam padi (100%, 75%:25%, 50%:50%, dan 25%:75%) dan dianalisis terhadap kadar air, kadar abu, nilai kalor, densitas, dan laju pembakaran. Hasil analisis menunjukkan bahwa komposisi bahan berpengaruh nyata terhadap kadar abu, nilai kalor, dan laju pembakaran (p<0,05), namun tidak berbeda nyata terhadap kadar air dan densitas (p>0,05). Rata-rata nilai kalor tertinggi diperoleh sebesar 4375,3 kal g-1 dan kadar abu terendah sebesar 20,39%. Dibandingkan dengan Standar Nasional Indonesia (SNI 01-6235-2000), seluruh perlakuan telah memenuhi batas kadar air dan densitas, namun belum memenuhi standar nilai kalor minimum (=5000 kal g-1) dan kadar abu maksimum (=8%), sehingga diperlukan pengembangan lebih lanjut sebelum dapat dikomersialisasikan sebagai bahan bakar padat.

Silkworm (Bombyx mori) frass is an organic waste with the potential to be utilized as an alternative fuel in the form of bio-briquettes. This study aimed to identify the physical and chemical characteristics of bio-briquettes and to evaluate the best composition of frass and burnt rice husk using tapioca flour as a binder. Bio-briquettes were produced in four mixing ratios of frass:burnt rice husk (100%, 75%:25%, 50%:50%, and 25%:75%) and analyzed for moisture content, ash content, calorific value, density, and burning rate. The results showed that composition significantly affected ash content, calorific value, and burning rate (p < 0.05), but had no significant effect on moisture content and density (p >0.05). The highest average calorific value obtained was 4375.3 cal g-1, and the lowest ash content was 20.39%. Compared to the Indonesian National Standard (SNI 01-6235 2000), all treatments met the standards for moisture content and density, but did not meet the minimum calorific value (=5000 cal g-1) and maximum ash content (=8%). These findings indicate that further development is required before these bio briquettes can be commercially viable as a solid biofuel.