Bio-oil characteristics of palm oil shell and empty fruit bunch (EFB) pyrolysis

Abstract

Oil palm shell and empty fruit bunch (EFB) are biomass which contains lignocellulose which can potentially converted to bio-oil (liquid product of pyrolysis). Pyrolysis process produces solid, liquid and gas products. Temperature level of pyrolysis process influences bio-oil composition and its characteristics. The objective of this research was to characterize bio-oil of pyrolysis product on palm oil shell and empty fruit bunch at 3 different temperature levels. Pyrolysis process was done by using mini pyrolysis reactor. The temperature was set at 400°C, 500°C and 600°C. The result showed that mass fraction of palm oil shell was fluctuating along with the temperature difference. Shell solid fraction was decreasing at range 44.27-34.99% while shell liquid and gas fraction were increasing at range 38.33-43.28% and 17.40-21.73%, respectively. EFB products mass fraction was fluctuating at range 30.66-45.28%, 24.85-29.16% and 28.86-44.49% for solid, liquid and gas respectively. The highest shell bio-oil calorific value was 36.15 kJ/g at temperature 500°C and EFB highest bio-oil calorific value was 40.86 kJ/g at temperature 600°C. The highest shell and EFB bio-oil energy was 7,445.39 kJ and 1117.62 kJ.