A Comparison of the Drying Times & Rates of Three Tropical Hardwood Species Using Air Drying and Ssolar Drying Methods

Mr. Lawrence Lewis & L. Ragoonanan This project aims to highlight the comparison of differences in the drying times of two methods of drying lumber namely the use of the air-drying shed and the solar drying kiln. This study was carried out at the research experimental station at the University of Guyana, Turkeyen Campus.

The species of wood used were of three commercial timber species that are utilized by small-scale furniture manufacturers. They are namely Protium decandrum (Kurokai), Carapa guianensis (Crabwood), Ocetea oblonga (Silverbali). The wood samples were placed under observation for a period of thirty days where the initial moisture content of the sample were recorded in a datasheet (using the Delmhorst moisture meter and the Oven dry method) as well as the relative humidity (using Cooper thermo hygrometer).

The result from the research conducted when analyzed showed that there is a significant difference in the drying times of both systems using the SAS system and the Tukey test. It has allowed for the drying of wood via the solar kiln to produce material to a moisture content of 12% in 25 days. The results will be used to guide stakeholders and smallscale furniture manufacturers to improve the quality furniture produced to internationally accepted standards as well as reduce the strain on the forest resource in terms of the demand for raw material.

This study is part of a three-fold experiment that will be carried out in the upcoming academic year. The benefit of this project is to make the value adding process to wood products available to the small scale furniture manufacturers and allow them to become competitive in the open market.

Key Words: Air drying shed, Solar Kiln, Moisture content, Relative Humidity