Upgrading Characteristics of Empty Fruit Bunch Biopellet with Addition of Bintaro Fruit as Co-firing

Abstract

The low density of mass and energy are the main reason for the underutilization of great potential of Empty Fruit Bunch (EFB) as a raw material of alternative and renewable fuels. The using of bintaro fruit as co-firing and treatment of torre faction – densification processes were believed to increase the density of mass and energy of the EFB bio pellet. This study aims to determine the effect of residence time, compaction pressure, and addition of bintaro fruit to the characteristics of EFB bio pellet according to ISO 17225-6 standards. Bio pellet machine was carried out two processes sequence, namely the torre faction process and the densification process. The torre faction process was carried out at 275°C with residence time variations 30, 45, and 60 minutes. The densification process was carried out without binder with compaction pressure variations 30, 40, and 50 bar. Characteristics of moisture content and volatile content decreased while ash content, fixed carbon content, and heating value increased with increasing residence time. Characteristics of density increased with increasing compaction pressure. Characteristics of proximate and heating value increased while density properties of bio pellet decreased with the addition of bintaro fruit as co-firing.