The objective of this study was to improve the quality of jabon (Anthocephalus cadamba) wood pellets through torrefaction with Counter-Flow Multi-Baffle (COMB) reactor and electric furnace (EF). COMB is a reactor that can conduct torrefaction with a short residence time, approximately around 3 to 5 min. The torrefaction with COMB reactor was conducted at 260°C and 280°C C, with a residence time of 3 min. The torrefaction with EF used the temperature of 260°C and 280°C with a duration of 20 min. The pellet properties evaluated include the color changes, physical characteristics, and heating values. The result showed that the color of Jabon wood pellet was totally changed after torrefaction with COMB reactor reaching the highest overall color-change (∆E *) of 21,9 in the long pellets and 21,7 in the short pellets, while torrefaction with EF resulted in the highest ∆E* of 28,6 and 23,2, in the long and short pellets, respectively. The initial moisture content of the long and short pellets of Jabon wood were 12,41% and 12,33%. After torrefaction with COMB the moisture content decreased to 2,85% and 2,61%, while after torrefaction with EF the values decreased to 2,77% and 2,58%. The initial density of the long and short pellets were 1,05 g/cm3 and 0,97 g/cm3. The density decreased to 0,91 g/cm3 and 0,76 g/cm3 after torrefaction with COMB reactor, and decreased to 0,87 g/cm3 and 0,75 g/cm3 after torrefaction with EF. The research result also showed that the initial heating value of long and short pellets of 17,69 MJ/kg increased to 31,79 MJ/kg (long pellets) and 32.02 MJ/kg (short pellets) after torrefaction with COMB reactor, and increased to 19.74 MJ/kg (long pellets) and 19.99 MJ/kg (short pellets) after torrefaction with EF. Torrefaction with COMB reactor with shorter residence time resulted in a higher improvement in bioenergetic properties of jabon wood pellets in comparison to torrefaction with EF.Keywords: Anthocephalus cadamba, Counter-Flow Multi Baffle, torrefaction

Rubberwood (Hevea brasiliensis) and Jabon (Anthocephalus cadamba) are two promising species that is widely planted in industrial plantation and community forests in Indonesia. The objective of this study was to improve the properties of rubberwood and jabon pellets through torrefacation. Torrefaction was performed at a temperature of 300°C and a residence time of 3 min, using Counter-Flow Multi Baffle (COMB) Dryer/Pyrolizer. The properties of torrefied wood pellets as equilibrium moisture content (EMC), density, and heating value. Black pellets were succefully obtained after torrefaction using COMB Dryer/Pyrolizer. The EMC of the black pellets from rubberwood and jabon was 3.54% and 2.85%, which is remarkably lower that their initial EMC of 12.25% and 12.76%, for rubberwood and jabon pellets, respectively. The density of black pellets from rubberwood and jabon and decreased 16.18% and 13.44% compared to control. Torrefaction using COMB Dryer/Pyrolizer also increased high heating value of wood pellets to 18.32% and 79.70%, for rubberwood and jabon pellets, respectively. Consequently, torrefaction using the COMB Dryer/Pyrolizer could improve the bioenergetic properties of jabon and rubberwood pellets.