Bark Pellet: Utilization of Bark Waste

A number of wood processing industries produce large amounts of bark waste. To deal with waste, the bark can be processed separately into pellets, or can also be mixed with other wood waste. Bark has a higher ash content than wood, so the resulting pellet also has a higher ash content than wood pellet. Meanwhile, if the wood waste is mixed, the ash content will also be reduced.

Utilization of biomass fuels such as pellets, palm kernel shells (PKS) and briquettes has been increasing lately. The main reason is still an economic aspect, namely the use of biomass fuels above will save energy expenditure ie those that previously used gas or LPG. Besides economic problems, there are actually environmental aspects that are also important. The use of biomass fuels is carbon neutral, so their use does not increase the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere and for that the use of biomass fuels should continue to be increased. But the management of biomass sources must be good and environmentally sound, so that the sustainability of production can be guaranteed.

The ash content of bark pellets is around 2-5% and this means that it is almost the same as a palm kernel shell (PKS). Not too high and can be widely used by a number of industries or SMEs such as the palm kernel shell. Pellet has a number of advantages compared to palm kernel shells such as the size and shape is more uniform and high level of dryness, although the consequences are also the price will be more expensive than a palm kernel shell.