Product Distribution and Characteristic from Pyrolysis of Indonesia Palm Oil Residues

Abstract

During the production, palm oil industry generated around 4 ton of dry biomass waste such empty fruit bunch (EFB), palm kernel shell (PKS), and palm oil fiber (PF) for each 1 ton of palm oil extracted. As main industry in Indonesia, palm oil industry offered not only the oil product but also biomass waste which was potential for clean energy sources. The utilization of those biomass residue is still limited due to lack of information related to conversion method as well as characteristic of various product. This research focuses on the product distribution and characterization of biomass pyrolysis especially PKS and PF. Pyrolysis experiments were conducted using both thermogravity (TG) method and stainless steel reactor at temperature range of 450-550°C. Based on the TG method that biomass was heated up until 1000°C in nitrogen atmosphere, PKS exhibited slower decomposition process rather than PF because of high value of hardness and fixed carbon. Two strong peaks were seen clearly which the first peak correspond to hemicellulose and lignin decomposition that proceed in the temperature range of 200 - 300°C. While, the second peak represented to cellulose and lignin decomposition that occurred in the temperature range of 300 - 500°C. Pyrolysis at higher temperature initiated smaller amount of solid product due to volatilization and higher ash content. The ash composed of several chemical such as Si, Al, Ca, Mn etc which would still remain in the solid product when temperature was increased. However, the fixed carbon and heating value enhanced significantly as increasing temperature. Clearly, based on the SEM images, the biochar hold better pore structure compared to raw material. In the pyrolysis process, the volatile matter moved to gas phases and create abundant vacant as pore structure in the solid product. These results offers opportunities of better utilization of palm oil residues not only energy conversion but also other area such as adsorbent, bio-fertilizer/soil conditioning.