CONVERSION OF OIL PALM BIOMASS TO BIO-OIL VIA SUBCRITICAL AND SUPERCRITICAL HYDROTHERMAL LIQUEFACTION

Bio-oil production from the hydrothermal liquefaction of biomass has gained
attention as a promising thermochemical conversion technology in utilizing biomass
as a source of renewable energy. As Malaysia is a global palm oil producer, the
abundance of oil palm wastes has created a huge potential for utilization in bio-oil
production. In this study, three types of oil palm biomass, namely empty fruit bunch
(EFB), palm mesocarp fiber (PMF) and palm kernel shell (PKS) are liquefied using
subcritical and supercritical water at various tp.mnpraturpq anH prpgS"tpr; to produce
bio-oil. The optimum condition at which maximum bio-oil yield is obtained from
hydrothermal liquefaction of EFB, PMF and PKS is determined and analyzed.