OXIDATIVE TORREFACTION FOR PULVERIZED PALM BIOMASS USING AIR

Authors

  • Mohamad Aiman Adnan Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 UTM Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
  • Muhammad Ariff Hanaffi Mohd Fuad Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 UTM Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
  • Mohd Faizal Hasan Automotive Development Centre, Institute for Vehicle System and Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 UTM Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11113/jt.v79.12259

Keywords:

Empty fruit bunch, palm kernel shell, oxidative torrefaction, torrefaction, air torrefaction

Abstract

Torrefaction is one of the promising ways to utilize abundant amount of empty fruit bunch (EFB) and palm kernel shell (PKS) while upgrading the combustion properties of both types of palm biomass. However, the supply of costly inert gas during torrefaction process such as nitrogen in large industrial sector may not be economical. Therefore, in the present study, air is used instead of nitrogen for the torrefaction process. The EFB and PKS were torrefied separately in a 60 mm diameter and 300 mm length of horizontal tubular reactor under various temperatures of 150°C to 190°C and 210°C to 250°C, respectively for 30 minutes using air. The torrefaction with nitrogen was also performed for comparison purpose. At the respective maximum temperature, energy yields of the torrefied EFB for the case of oxidative (air) torrefaction and nitrogen torrefaction are around 95% and 88%, respectively while energy yields of PKS for the case of oxidative(air) and nitrogen torrefaction are around 69% and 83%, respectively due to the weight loss after removal of volatile matter during torrefaction process. Besides that, the calorific values are enhanced after being torrefied with air (mere 4% for EFB and 18% for PKS when the respective maximum temperature was used).

References

Saad, M., Meghdad, B., Azadeh, S., and Zainal, S. 2014. Malaysia’s Renewable Energy Policies and Programs with Green Aspects. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 40: 497-504.

Shafie, S. M., Mahlia, T. M., Masjuki, H. H., and Andriyana, A. 2011. Current Energy Usage and Sustainable Energy in Malaysia: A Review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 15(9): 4370-4377.

Ronald, Z. 2013. Opportunities and Challenges in the Development of a Viable Malaysia Palm Oil Biomass Industry. Journal of Oil Palm & The Environment. 4: 41-46.

Awalludin, M. F., Sulaiman, O., Hashim, R., and Wan Nadhari, W. N. A. 2015. An Overview of the Oil Palm Industry in Malaysia and Its Waste Utilization through Thermochemical Conversion, Specifically Via Liquefaction. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 50: 1469-1484.

Chen, W.-H., Zhuang, Y.-Q., Liu, S.-H., Juang, T.-T., and Tsai, C. M. 2016. Product Characteristics from Torrefaction of Oil Palm Fiber Pellets in Inert and Oxidative Atmospheres. Bioresource Technology. 199: 367-374.

Li, H., Liu, X., Legros, R., Bi, X. T., Lim, C. J., and Sokhansanj, S. 2012. Pelletization of Torrefied Sawdust and Properties of Torrefied Pellets. Applied Energy. 93: 680-685.

Ghiasi, B., Kumar, L., Furubayashi, T., Lim, C. J., Bi, X., Soo Kim, C., and Sokhansanj, S. 2014. Densified Biocoals from Woodchips: It is Better to Do Torrefaction Before or After Densification? Applied Energy. 134: 133-142.

Nyakuma, B. B., Ahmad, A., Johari, A., Abdullah, T. A. T., and Oladokun, O. 2015. Torrefaction of Pelletized Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunches. The 21st International Symposium on Alcohol Fuels. Gwangju, Korea. 10-14 March 2014.

Mohd Ja’afar, M. N., Abd Rahman, A., and Shamsuddin, A. H. 2013. Development of a Bench Scale Biomass Torrefier. IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science. 16: 1-4.

Na, B. –I., Kim, Y.-H., Lim, W.-S., Lee, S.-M., Lee, H.-W., and Lee, J.-W. 2013. Torrefaction of Oil Palm Mesocarp Fibre and Their Effect on Pelletizing. Biomass and Bioenergy. 52: 159-165.

Sulaiman, F., Abdullah, N., Gerhauser, H. and Shariff, A. 2010. A Perspective of Oil Palm and Its Wastes. Journal of Physical Science. 21(1): 67-77.

Nhuchhen, D. R., and Basu, P. 2014. Experimental Investigation of Mildly Pressurized Torrefaction in Air and Nitrogen. Energy Fuels. 28: 3110-3121.

Uemura, Y., Omar, W., Othman, N. A., Yusup, S., and Tsutsui, T. 2013. Torrefaction of Oil Palm EFB in the Presence of Oxygen. Fuel. 103: 156-160.

Sellappah, V., Uemura, Y., Hassan, S., Sulaiman, M. H., and Lam, M. K., 2016. Torrefaction of Empty Fruit Bunch in the Presence of Combustion Gas. Procedia Engineering. 148: 750-757.

Eseltine, D., Sankar Thanapal, S., Annamalai, K., and Ranjan, D. 2013. Torrefaction of Woody Biomass (Juniper and Mesquite) using Inert and Non-inert Gases. Fuel. 113: 379-388.

Wang, C, Peng, J., Li, H., Bi, X. T., Legros. R., Lim, C. J., and Sokhansanj, S. 2013. Oxidative Torrefaction of Biomass Residues and Densification of Torrefied Sawdust to Pellets. Bioresource Technology. 127: 318-325.

Li, M.-F., Li, X., Bian, J., Xu, J.-K., Yang, S., and Sun, R.-C. 2015. Influence of Temperature on Bamboo Torrefaction Under Carbon Dioxide Atmosphere. Industrial Crops and Products. 76: 149-157.

Uemura, Y., Saadon, S., Osman, N., Mansor, N., and Tanoue, K.-I. 2015. Torrefaction of Oil Palm Kernel Shell in the Presence of Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide. Fuel. 144: 171-179.

Tran, K.-Q., Trinh, T. N., and Bach, Q.-V. 2016. Development of Biomass Torrefaction Process Integrated with Oxy-fuel Combustion. Bioresource Technology. 199: 408-413.

Uemura, Y., Sellappah, V., Trinh, T. H., Hassan, S., and Tanoue K.-I. 2017. Torrefaction of Empty Fruit Bunches Under Biomass Combustion Gas Atmosphere. Bioresource Technology. 243: 107-117.

Sukiran, M. A., Abnisa, F., Wan Daud, W. M. A., Abu Bakar, N., and Loh, S. K. 2017. A Review of Torrefaction of Oil Palm Solid Wastes for Biofuel Production. Energy Conversion and Management. 149: 101-120.

Nyakuma, B. B., Johari, A., Ahmad, A., and Abdullah, T. A. T. 2014. Thermogravimetric Analysis of the Fuel Properties of Empty Fruit Bunch Briquettes. Jurnal Teknologi. 67(3): 79-82.

Bridgeman, T. G., Jones, J. M., Shield, I., and Williams, P. T. 2008. Torrefaction of Reed Canary Grass, Wheat Straw and Willow to Enhance Solid Fuel Qualities and Combustion Properties. Fuel. 87(6): 844–856.

Uemura, Y., Omar, W. N., Tsutsui, T., and Yusup, S. B. 2011. Torrefaction of Oil Palm Wastes. Fuel. 90: 2585-2591.

Faizal, H. M., M. Jusoh, M. A., Abdul Rahman, M. R., Syahrullail, S., and Latiff, Z. A. 2016. Torrefaction of Palm Biomass Briquettes at Different Temperature. Jurnal Teknologi. 78 (9-2): 61-67.

Husain, Z., Zainac, Z., and Abdullah, Z. 2002. Briquetting of Palm Fibre and Shell from the Processing of Palm Nuts to Palm Oil. Biomass and Bioenergy. 22: 505-509.

Downloads

Published

2017-12-07

How to Cite

OXIDATIVE TORREFACTION FOR PULVERIZED PALM BIOMASS USING AIR. (2017). Jurnal Teknologi, 79(7-4). https://doi.org/10.11113/jt.v79.12259