Effect of microwave power level and processing time on the quality of palm shell charcoal (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) briquettes

Abstract

One of the developments in renewable energy sources is use of biomass. This research aims to analyze the effect of power (70, 150 and 230 W) and activation time of palm shell charcoal using microwave during different time intervals (360, 480 and 600 s) on the density, moisture, ash content and volatile matter of palm shell charcoal briquettes. Charcoal briquettes are obtained from the carbonization process at a temperature of 548.7°C for 6 h, grinding and sieving at 80–100 mesh, activation using a microwave at a fixed time of 480 s with variations in activation power of 70, 150 and 230 W and fixed 150 W with variations in activation time of 360, 480 and 600 s. The research results showed that the density of palm shell charcoal briquettes ranged from 0.51–0.54 g/cm3, the water content ranged from 3.31–3.92 %, the ash content ranged from 7.13–7.86 % and the volatile matter ranged from 8.19–9.22 %. SEM characterization shows that microwave activation increases the number of pores evenly and enlarges the pores. From the research results, the power and activation time vastly improve the quality of palm shell charcoal briquettes.