TORREFACTION OF OIL PALM KERNEL SHELL IN THE ABSENCE AND PRESENCE OF OXYGEN AND CARBON DIOXIDE

Despite the fact that torrefaction is a promising technique to improve the properties of
biomass for energy conversion, the effect of atmospheric condition is not broadly
explored. In this study, the atmospheric condition is manipulated between inert
torrefaction and torrefaction in the presence ofoxygen and carbon dioxide to mimic the
utilizationofflue gas from industrial boilersto replace the need fortotal nitrogen supply
mtorrefaction reactor. Afundamental study is needed to support the idea, for that
reason this project studied how the behaviouroftorrefaction diverged when the process
was carried outin the presence ofoxygen and carbon dioxide. The outcome ofthe study
is beneficial in such away that the industries can optimize the cost ofWin, htorrefaction
process plant. The biomass investigated is palm kernel shell due to its
abundance in Malaysia's palm oil mill. Torrefection carried out at sever, temperature
such as 300 -C causes the significant reduction in mass yield, and subsequently energy
yield, though the calorific value of the torrefied solid is the highest.