Effect of boric acid on the preservation of palm replanting wood waste

Abstract

At present, the area of oil palm plantations in Indonesia is approximately 11 million hectares. In addition, to produce abundant palm oil, this palm plantation also produces waste in the form of replanted wood when regeneration is carried out. The aim of this research is the utilization of palm wood replanting waste by immersion treating with boric acid as a preservative with concentrations of 1; 2.5 and 5% and soaking time of 2, 4, 6 days. From the preliminary analysis of the replanting waste, the water content was obtained at 34.41%, flexural strength at 26.48 kg/cm2, and compressive strength at 3.73 kg/cm2. After the preservative treatment with boric acid with 2; 4; and 6 days immersion and drying process, it was found the decrease of water content, an increase of compressive strength and flexural strength. The 4 days immersion with boric acid 5% was the best treatment with the water content decreased to 0.31%, flexural strength increased to 47.60 kg/cm2 and compressive strength increased to 8.21 kg/cm2.