Possibility utilization of sugar palm trunk base (<i>Arenga longipes</i> Mogea) based on anatomical and chemical properties

Abstract Sugar palm trunks generally contain chemicals such as cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. In Indonesia sugar palm grows in almost all regions, especially in hilly areas with high humidity. This study aims to characterize the anatomy and analyze the chemical properties of sugar palm trunks at the bottom section. The observation of anatomical characteristics such as anatomical structure and fiber parameters that refer to the IAWA (1989) standard and LPHH Report No. 75 1976. Observation result of anatomical properties showed the total area of vascular tissue was 0.738–0.868 mm 2 , vascular tissue area was 0.418–0.713 mm 2 and non-vascular tissue area was 0.155–0.366 mm 2 . The result of fiber parameters showed fiber length of 2091.61 µ m, fiber diameter of 23.51 µ m, fiber wall thickness of 4.36 µ m, and lumen diameter of 14.80 µ m. Chemical properties in this study such as extractive, cellulose, lignin, and ash content referring to ASTM (1985 and 2001). The results of chemical properties testing showed extractive content of 7.04-59.93%, cellulose content of 18.84-76.42%, lignin content of 63.95-69.35%, and ash content of 5.50-9.44%. It can be concluded that the fiber quality was in class II and it possible use for pulp raw material.