Rocky Marius Q. de Ramos, Francis Dave C. Siacor, Evelyn B. Taboada
During harvesting of mangroves, biomass waste such as mangrove barks are left unused. The study aims to valorize this waste by determining its chemical properties. Mangrove barks from the Rhizophora apiculata, Rhizophora mucronata, Bruguiera gymnorhiza, Bruguiera parviflora and Ceriops tagal were studied through Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and proximate, calorific, phenolic & tannin contents analysis. Bruguiera gymnorhiza has the highest calorific value and carbon content of all five varieties of bark, which can substitute as material for fuel and can be planted in deforested areas for it can absorb the most CO2. On the other hand, Rhizophora apiculata and Rhizophora mucronata have the highest ash content in all mangrove barks, which can be a good source of minerals for the soil. Ceriops tagal has the highest lignin, cellulose, hemicellulose, phenolic and tannin contents, which can be used as a fuel substitute and raw material source for biomass and bio-active compounds. © 2019, © 2019 IWSc, The Wood Technology Society of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining.
Engineering Graduate Program, School of Engineering, University of San Carlos, Cebu City, Philippines; Department of Industrial Engineering, School of Engineering and Architecture, Ateneo de Davao University, Davao City, Philippines; Department of Chemical Engineering, School of Engineering, University of San Carlos, Cebu City, Philippines
