The Effect of Chemical Components of Thermally Treated Meranti Wood on the Higher Heating Value

The effects of thermal treatment on the changes in the chemical composition and higher heating values (HHV) of tropical hardwood meranti were investigated in a study. The samples of light red meranti wood (Shorea spp.) with dimensions of 20 mm × 100 mm × 700 mm were conditioned at 20 °C (control samples) and thermally treated at 160, 180, 200, and 220 °C. The chemical composition and HHV of control samples and thermally treated samples were evaluated. The chemical composition was measured using the procedures of Seifert, Wise, and ASTM. After thermal treatment, a significant reduction in holocellulose and hemicellulose content and an increase in extractives and lignin were observed. Consequently, we observed a rise in HHVs. HHV of thermally treated wood was strongly positively linearly correlated with lignin content (Pearson r = 0.9850, p < 0.001, R2 = 0.9702, n = 15). Regression analysis showed that the model HHV = 0.1443(lig) + 16.012 is suitable for predicting the HHV of thermally treated wood, if the lignin content is known.