CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

1.1 INTRODUCTIONBungkang leaves are leaves obtained from a plant of scientific name Eugenia stopper, from the family Myrtaceae which comprises 100 genera and at least 3000 species of trees and shrubs, propagated and broaden throughout all continents apart from Antarctica, but with clear high proportion in tropical and subtropical counties of the world (Marchiori and Sobral, 1997). In Brazil, this family is represented by 23 genera and 1000 species (Landrum and Kawasaki, 1997), where the genusEugeniais well represented in different vegetation formations (Rogmanolo and Souza, 2006), mostly in sandbanks (Rosrio etal., 2005,Lima etal., 2009andPereira etal., 2010). Chemical variation of aromatic plants can occur mostly due to genetic and environmental factors (Nerneth etal., 1993). The aim of this study was to determine drying characteristic and proximate analysis of bungkang leaves

There are many techniques of methods of proximate analysis that can be used to determine the chemical composition of the sugarcane bagasse. The most common method used is the American Standard Test and Methods (ASTM). This method can be used to determine the moisture content, volatile matter, ash content and fixed carbon in the sugarcane bagasse.

1.2 PROBLEM STATEMENTBased on this research, the chemical composition of the bungkang leaves which enabled its ability to generate electricity can be determined by conducting a few tests by using proximate analysis.

1.2 OBJECTIVE OF RESEARCHThe objectives of this research are as follows:a) To determine drying characteristic of bungkang leaves.b) To determine proximate analysis of bungkang leaves.

1.3 SCOPE OF RESEARCHThe proximate analysis of bungkang leaves was conducted in the Basic Instrument Analysis laboratory of UiTM Kota Samarahan Campus, Sarawak. The analysis was conducted to determine the moisture content, volatile matter, ash content and fixed carbon of the bungkang leaves.

The main objectives of this research are to determine the chemical composition of the bungkang leaves by using proximate analysis and to identify the potential of as the bungkang leaves new source of renewable energy.