The Potential of Nipah (Nypa Fruticans Wurmb) as Bioenergy Resources

Abstract

Renewable energy opens up prospects for answer the problem and an eco-friendly solution directed to energy security. Indonesia as a rich country of biodiversity resources, has a high potential for developing new and renewable energy derivates from plants. One of those biodiversity resources that had been investigated is nipah (Nypa fruticans Wurmb). Nipah belongs to family Palmae or Arecaceae. Commonly known as the nipa palm, is a species of palm considered adapted to the mangrove ecosystem. Nipah naturally distributes in Sumatera, Kalimantan, Java, Sulawesi, and New Guinea. Nipah produces high amount of sap that can be converted into bioethanol. Nipah sap was produced by fruit stalks that can be harvested twice a day. One stalk can produce about 0.5 to 2 l sap per day. This nipah sap generates 8.98-14% of ethanol that resulting varied amount of bioethanol from 3,587.92-22,374.54 l per ha per year. Nipah also contains high amount of lignocellulose that can be converted into bioethanol. Nipah has cellulose and hemicellulose content that ranges from 28.9-45.6 wt% and 21.8-26.4 wt%, respectively. This lignocellulose component can be converted into bioethanol and yielded around 1,169.22 kg per ha. Charcoal production is also potentially made from some parts of nipah tree, such as fruit bunch, fruit shell, leaf midrib, and leaves. Nipah has productivity around 2,858.89 kg per ha to produce charcoal. The nipah charcoal has characteristics close to charcoal characteristics produced from other palm trees.

Study of population distribution and benefits of Nipah (Nypa fruticans)

“…Content of carbohydrate, crude protein, crude fat, insoluble and soluble fiber, phenolics compound [32] Fruit flesh (mesocarp) Content of phenolics, flavonoid and antioxidant [33] Fruit flesh (mesocarp) Starch raw materials containing carbohydrates [34,35] Fruit fiber Raw materials for making briquettes (fuel) [36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43] Fruit shell Raw materials for making briquettes (fuel) [41][42][43] Fruit shell For making buttons, necklaces and other clothing accessories [9] Fruit shell Heterogeneous catalyst in biodiesel synthesis [44] Sap For making alcohol, molasses, vinegar, syrup, granulate sugar [27,28,45] Sap Contains anti-diabetic compounds and antioxidants [9,45,46] Sap Rich in glucose, sucrose, fructose, minerals, vitamins, organic compounds and antioxidant activity [47][48][49] fruit residues Used for fuel [9] Tree Fiber Raw materials for making particle board [50] Fiber Raw materials for making briquettes (fuel) [43] Stem wood Used for fuel [9] Roots Rhizomes Floats for fishing nets to float above the surface of the water [9] Roots Associated with nipah worms which are useful for fishing bait [8] We have collected various research literature in various places which shows that nipah has enormous benefits (Table 1). The part of the nipah plant that is commonly used by the community is the leaves which can be made into roofs and cigarette wrappers; and the sap can be used as alcohol [27], and the fiber is used as raw material for particle board [51].…”

“…Nipah contains high levels of cellulose and hemicellulose, namely around 28.9-45.6% and 21.8-45.6% respectively, so it has potential as an energy source [51]. Trees, fruit bunches, and fruit peels of nipah can also be processed into charcoal briquettes [42,43]. Apart from that, nipah also has the potential to be used as a source of food and medicine.…”

Proximate, Chemical and Minerals Characterization of Nypa fruticans Palm Sugar Produced by Reverse Osmosis-Pan Boiling (RO-PB) Method

“…Nypa palm sugar is produced from the sap harvested from stem of nipah palm (Nypa fruticans Wurmb) [1; 2]. The structure of the nipah palm is unique, lacks an upright trunk, and has a stem that forms horizontally with dichotomous branching underground [3]. The sap collected from the stalk of the tree is the main ingredient used to make various sugary product forms such as syrup, molasses, and granulated apong.…”

Nipah (Nypa fruticans): can it be a renewable alternative energy source?

“…Biomass that has the potential to be used as an energy source is one that contains a lot of lignocellulose, such as nipah (Nypa fruticans) which contains cellulose and hemicellulose, respectively, about 28.9-45.6% and 21.8-45.6% [6]. Nipah parts that can be used as charcoal briquettes are trees, fruit bunches and fruit shells [7]. Nipah is classified in the Arecaceae family which lives with other plants in brackish water swamps [8].…”