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Mechanical Dewatering of Wet Oil Palm Lumber Prior to Press-Drying

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Proceedings of 2nd World Conference on Byproducts of Palms and Their Applications (ByPalma 2020)

Part of the book series: Springer Proceedings in Materials ((SPM,volume 19))

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Abstract

Due to shorter rotation cycles compared to other palm species, oil palm wood has lower densities, a wider density range (150–600 kg/m3 dry), and a high moisture content. The moisture content varies, reversely to the density, with the highest values of up to 600% at the trunk core, especially at the top of the palm trunk. Kiln drying material with such low density, very high moisture content and high sugar and starch content is difficult and often produces drying defects such as cell collapse, cracks, and mold. Mechanical dewatering of wet oil palm lumber in an unheated double roller press reduces the water content and generates sugar-containing pressed water (sap) that could be used as a source for biochemicals. The share of mechanically removed water varied from 1 to >54% of the total water removed from wet to dry state (at 20 °C, 65% rh). Center boards from the top of the trunk had the highest dewatering rates while boards from the periphery at the bottom of the trunk (high density, low water content) showed the lowest.

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Acknowledgements

The project was funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research through the “Bioökonomie International 2017” project “Oilpalmsugar (031B0767A)”. The procurement of the oil palm material was supported by the Malaysian Timber Industry Board (MTIB) and the Fibre and Biocomposite Development Centre (FIDEC) represented by Dr. Loh Yueh Feng as well as Profina Plywood Sdn Bhd represented by Chuah KK and Chuah KH.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Production Engineering and Wood Technology, Ostwestfalen-Lippe University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Lemgo, Germany

    Katja Fruehwald-Koenig & Nathan Koelli

  2. Institute of Wood Science, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany

    Nathan Koelli & Arno Fruehwald

Authors
  1. Katja Fruehwald-Koenig
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  2. Nathan Koelli
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  3. Arno Fruehwald
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Contributions

Prof. Dr. Arno Fruehwald first came up with the idea of dewatering and densifying oil palm wood. Prof. Dr. Arno Fruehwald and Prof. Katja Fruehwald-Koenig together developed the research questions, the project goal, and the research approach. M.Sc. Nathan Koelli performed the laboratory investigations, their analyses and drew the figures and tables. Prof. Katja Fruehwald-Koenig and Prof. Dr. Arno Fruehwald supervised his work and reviewed the draft paper written by Nathan Kölli.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Katja Fruehwald-Koenig .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia

    Mohammad Jawaid

  2. German University in Cairo, Cairo, Egypt

    Mohamad Midani

  3. Higher Institute of Technological Studies in Ksar-Hellal, Ksar Hellal, Tunisia

    Ramzi Khiari

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© 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

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Fruehwald-Koenig, K., Koelli, N., Fruehwald, A. (2023). Mechanical Dewatering of Wet Oil Palm Lumber Prior to Press-Drying. In: Jawaid, M., Midani, M., Khiari, R. (eds) Proceedings of 2nd World Conference on Byproducts of Palms and Their Applications. ByPalma 2020. Springer Proceedings in Materials, vol 19. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-6195-3_2

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