Biomass gasification stove performance using Sago waste pellets with variation of aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃)

The climate change has become a major concern in worldwide. The biomass waste is an alternative energy for substituting the fossil fuel energy in power generation, process industry and also household. The potential for biomass waste in Papua is solid sago waste, which is as by product of sago starch processing. The starch from sago palm is served as the staple food of people in Papua. Sago waste need to be managed for preventing the environmental problem. In sago processing, only 25% of sago trunk becomes sago starch and others release as solid waste (sago bark waste, sago pith and sago fiber waste). In this study, sago pith waste is utilized to produce biomass pellet as alternative fuel for cook stove. An additive of Aluminum Oxide (Al2O3) is investigated by mixing in the sago pith waste with the ratio of 5%, 10%, and 15% by weight. The purpose of the study was to determine the performance of the gasification stove by utilizing sago pith waste pellets based on three various ratio of aluminum oxide (Al2O3) additive. The results showed that the higher the percentage of additives added to the sago pellet, the harder of the sago pellets, consequently the longer the resistance time during immersion test in the water. Meanwhile, the test result by Water Boiling Test (WBT) method shows that 10% of Aluminum Oxide (Al2O3) has become the shortest time for boiling 1 liter of water. Based on gasification stove test, the flame characteristic of 10% additive shows better in the flame length compare with 5% and 15% additive. In general, aluminum oxide (Al2O3) additive in sago pith waste pellet can increase the flame length and flame temperature, and also longer in burning time.