Torrefaction of Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch into Value-Added Solid Fuel

Dependence on fossil fuel as the main energy source has led to various negative impact
upon human and environment. Uncontrolled use of fossil fuel leads to emission of
greenhouse gases which later caused problems such as global warming and acid rain.
Instable price of fossil fuel also caused variety of problems to daily life of human.
Malaysia is well known as among world largest exporterof palm oil products; therefore
providmg us with abundant source of palm oil wastes. These bio wastes are highly
potential as a replacement for the current fossil fuel; one of it is palm oil empty fruit
bunch (POEFB). However, POEFB has inferior quality as a reliable solid fuel. The
qualities of concern are energy content and resistance toward degradation. Torrefaction
has been identified as a suitable pre-treatment process to increase the qualities of
untreated POEFB. Torrefaction is mildpyrolysis process underlow oxygencondition to
imitate decomposition of long hydrocarbon process in POEFB. By manipulating the
residence time and operating temperature for the process, an improvement can be made
on the final desired product. This study investigated the effect of the parameters i.e. at
240°C, 260°C and 280°C for 30 minutes, 60 minutes and 90 minutes on the
characteristics of the solid product. The final product was characterized using Carbon,
Hydrogen, Nitrogen and Sulphur (CHNS) analyzer, bomb calorific analyzer and
Thermo-gravimetric analyzer (TGA).