Influence of torrefaction on chemical compositions of empty fruit bunch (EFB) biomass using microwave heating

Abstract

Lignocellulosic biomass is inexpensive, most abundance and provide the large-scale. Lignocellulosic are compose into three structures which are cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. Empty Fruit Bunch (EFB) has the highest composition of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin among the abundance fiber like coir, corn, bagasse and kenaf fiber. Torrefaction was the process pre-treatment of biomass materials in inert atmosphere (nitrogen) in temperature range 200 to 300 °C by using microwave heating. Microwave controlled all the parameter which is power level (W), temperature (°C), volume of nitrogen (ml/min) and mass of sample (g) during the torrefaction process. In this study, the analysis of raw and torrefied EFB was done according to TAPPI standard method except hemicellulose which data was collected through equation. Result acquired reveals that the highest percentage in extractive, holocellulose, α-cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin was be found in raw EFB compared to other torrefaction EFB due to the degradation of content during torrefaction process. The degradation of hemicellulose was the takes place in temperature range 200 to 350 °C or even lower, whereas the degradation of cellulose and lignin occurs when 300 °C and above. This study determined EFB as useful alternative resources in feedstock material steam for power plant application.