A critical analysis on palm kernel shell from oil palm industry as a feedstock for solid char production

Abstract

Palm kernel shell (PKS) is one of the greatly abundant residues in the palm oil industry. It possesses physiochemical characteristics that build in it a potential to serve the production of valuable products, namely, bio-fuels such as char, bio-oil, and bio-gas. This paper presents the properties of PKS as a biomass feed for the production of char. Characterizations of PKS in terms of proximate and ultimate analyses, chemical composition, and higher heating value (HHV in terms of MJ/kg) are presented and consequently compared to different oil palm biomass such as empty fruit bunch (EFB), fiber, fronds, and trunks. To illustrate and signify stability, the aforementioned characteristics are discussed for PKS-char, along with further comparison with EFB-char and coal. In addition, recent advances in char production methods from PKS are presented and compared. Simultaneously, future prospects and major challenges towards the utilization of PKS for the production of char are also addressed.