Crude Palm Oil Mills Research Articles

Comprehensive assessment using preheat crude palm oil on endurance test engine diesel: Technical and supply chain scheme

Burdened by oil imports and subsidies for more than 5000 diesel power plants, Indonesia aims to use crude palm oil (CPO) as fuel in the power plants. Previous studies only focused on the technical feasibility of using CPO. Therefore, this study aimed to enrich the existing literature by analyzing the technical feasibility of using CPO, degummed CPO, and bleached palm oil (BPO) fuels on endurance test for 500 operational hours with a 20 kW diesel engine capacity for each type of fuels. Our analysis included component rating and the measurement of specific fuel consumption, emissions, oil dilution, and deposit materials. The assessment concluded that diesel engines using CPO, BPO, and degummed CPO increased specific fuel consumption, deposit formation, and emissions of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide compared to engines using a 30% FAME blend in HSD or Biodiesel 30. This implies that CPO, BPO, and degummed CPO could be used in diesel engines, though fuel consumption and maintenance costs tend to increase. Based on the test results, we provided an efficient CPO supply chain from CPO mills to diesel power plants.

The assessment of fresh fruit bunches supply chain of palm oil independent smallholder farmers in southeast Sulawesi

Palm oil commodity in Indonesia is the cash crop for smallholder farmers especially in the dry land area. This smallholder has contributed to produce Crude Palm Oil (CPO) about more than 40 percent in the supply chain. This study is aimed to identify downstream and upstream in the line of CPO palm oil. Secondly, is to know the role of the actors in the CPO supply chain and its traceability. This study employed the traceability method of networking of CPO supply chain in Southeast Sulawesi. Indonesia. Two research sites were conducted as the implementation of survey, observation, interviews and Focus Group Discussion (FGD). The respondents have chosen from the downstream to upstream of the CPO supply chain. Independent farmers, middlemen, delivery order, and Fruit Fresh Bunches (FFB) mills to produce CPO have been interviewed as the key informant of this research. Traceability study shows that the main source of FFB came from the core of PT. Damai Jaya Lestari both in the research site, plasma, and independent farmer. In North Konawe, the downstream line that farmers sell the FFB to the middlemen then they bring to the agency who has the delivery order from the CPO mills. Meanwhile, in Kolaka District, Independent farmers sold the FFB to the agency who has the contract with the PT. Damai Jaya Lestari in Plasma Village, Poliggona Sub District. In terms of the green economy, waste such empty bunches were limited access for farmers who wanted to proceed with the waste for organic fertilizer and feeding cows. The role and the traceability study show that independent farmers have no access to utilize the waste of empty bunches, no protection from the Damai Jaya Lestari as the CPO mills, and have no institutional farmers as the farmers group.

AHP-goal programming as the optimization method for management model in oil palm empty bunches waste

PurposeThis study aims to determine the optimum model of oil palm empty bunches (OPEB) management, to determine the optimal number of OPEB in waste management, which is then recommended to the company, and to know the achievement of various goals/targets with limited availability of resources.Design/methodology/approachThis research uses quantitative and qualitative approaches. Quantitative approach is done by processing the data for financing and profit analysis in OPEB waste management which is then used for resource approach. A qualitative approach is undertaken for weighing purposes in the analytic hierarchical program (AHP) analysis. The research location was determined purposively in the crude palm oil mill of PT. Pundi Lahan Khatulistiwa in Ambawang, Kubu Raya Regency.FindingsIn order that the optimal settlement can achieve the goal/target of minimal environmental pollution, low cost and profit gain, the amount of OPEB that must be managed by the company is 311 tons prioritized for productive plants compost of 66.67 tons, organic fertilizer of 11 tons and mushroom growing media of 233.33 tons. Consequently, the company's cost of IDR 4.000.000.000 still spares IDR 2.004.694.000. The OPEB management as oyster mushroom promises a relatively high profit compared to other OPEB managements even though the cost is not the least.Originality/valueThis research is one of the few studies that examines the waste management model of palm oil empty bunches, mainly located in West Kalimantan, Indonesia. Originality is seen from the use of optimization analysis tools with integration of AHP with goal programming.

Anaerobic Treatment for Palm Oil Mill Effluent Using Covered In-the Ground Anaerobic Reactor (CIGAR)

Wastewater from crude palm oil mills contains high organic matter, which potentially produces biogas through anaerobic digestion processes. The design and operation of an anaerobic bioreactor require a good understanding of the reaction kinetic in the bioreactor. This study aimed to evaluate the biogas production from POME and to determine the kinetic parameters of microbial growth and the substrate utilization rates in a CIGAR. An experiment was conducted using a 5-m3 bioreactor with a working volume of 4.4 m3. Wastewater from the Bekri palm oil mill was stored in a 5-m3 tank. After stabilization, the wastewater was loaded into the reactor at a rate of 100 to 250 L/d, corresponding to a COD loading rate of 1.373-3.097 kg·m-3.d-1, and an HRT of 18-44 days. Monod, Contois, Moser, and Shuler kinetic models were evaluated. The results showed that the Shuler model performed best for microbial activities, while the first order reaction model performed best for the substrate utilization kinetic. The maximum specific growth rate (μmax) for the Shuler model was 0.052 d-1 and the saturation constant (Kso) was 0.119. The maximum substrate utilization rate constant (ks) was 2.183 d-1 and biomass yield (Yx/s) 0.024 kg/kg. The maximum average efficiency of anaerobic degradation (34.4%) occurred at a feeding rate of 100 L/d with methane yield of 0.120 Nm3/kg of removed COD. This value is relatively low compared to the maximum potential of 0.350 Nm3/kg CODr.

Potential of Steam Recovery from Excess Steam in Sterilizer at Palm Oil Mill

Energy saving is something that being focus deeply either larger or smaller industry in this current era especially steam and electricity. In a crude palm oil mill, tons of fibers and woods are used for burning process as a boiler fuel to generate steam. As steam is good heat transfer medium, it is use for the regular process of heating the product or materials by direct and batch heating to raise the temperature in order to change the characteristic. In typical palm oil mill, every 1000kg of fresh fruits bunches (FFB) required 250kg of steam energy for the sterilization process. It is not surprising that the exhaust lost that release to the atmosphere from the total steam usage is about 70%, which can conclude as energy waste. By referring to this issue, the cost of replace consumable boiler fuel increase tremendously. Besides that, the huge amount of heat release caused the thermal pollution that may have significant effects in the ecological balance and lead to changes in the aquatic fauna and flora. This paper reviews and critically discusses the waste of steam energy and the morphology involved in excess steam from sterilizer. The system that combined with few steps of steam recovery were developed to recovery the low-pressure steam to form the mid-pressure steam that can able to reuse at the process plant. The steam ejector technology is use in this research to recover and reuse the excess steam leading to lower energy consumption and fuel costs. The overall idea is about combining the low-pressure excess steam with high-pressure steam that directly supply from back pressure receiver to form the mid-pressure steam. The Ansys software used as to identify the change of parameter of excess steam and through the software, the percentage of motive steam needed to combine with excess steam finalized. Via recovery and reuse the excess steam from sterilizer, the total energy consumption will be minimized at least 20% which can able to reduce the massive expenses for boiler fuel that benefit the palm oil mill owners.

Potassium enrichment of treated palm oil mill effluent in a fixed-bed contactor

Treated Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME) is the effluent of POME-based biogas production process. This liquid is potential as a raw material of liquid organic fertilizer, but the potassium content should be upgraded. Ash of empty palm fruit bunches (EPFB-a) which is locally available in huge amount is an attractive source of potassium. Potassium enrichment of treated POME was performed by contacting this liquid with EPFB-a in a fixed bed contactor. This research studied the effects of treated POME flow rate and height of EPFB-a bed on potassium mass transfer coefficient from solid to liquid phase in the contactor. Treated POME and EPFB-a were obtained from a crude palm oil mill in Rantau Sakti Village, Tambusai Utara Sub-district, Rokan Hulu Regency of Riau Province. The treated POME flow rates were set at 3.72; 3.36; and 2.52 L/min. EPFB-a bed height were fixed at 0.03, 0.06, and 0.09 m. The performance of this fixed bed contactor was evaluated based on extracted potassium content.

EFFECT OF COMBINATION MICROWAVE AND OVEN DRYING ON THE CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF DIFFERENT RIPENESS CRUDE PALM OIL

Small crude palm oil mill in Thailand produced the low quality of crude palm oil by using oven drying to dry palm fruits for 14-16 hours. So, the aim of this research is to replace oven drying by using the combined microwave and oven drying to dry palm fruits at different ripeness for 3-4 hours. The effects of combined methods on the chemical properties of crude palm oil are evaluated and compared the properties with premium crude palm oil. The experiments of study followed this detail. The raw materials were 18, 20, 22 and 24% of oil content consisted in oil palm bunches. In experiment, 1 kg of each sample was heated at 850 watt for 10 minutes in microwave followed with oven drying for 3 hours. Heated palm fruits were further separated the mesocarp from kernel seed. The mesocarp was further pressed by screw press to obtain crude palm oil. The oil was analyzed its chemical properties in term of free fatty acid (FFA), deterioration of bleachability (DOBI), carotene content, vitamin E content, iodine value (IV) and peroxide value (PV). The results showed that all of oil palm fruits ripeness can produce a premium crude palm oil with low free fatty acid content and high DOBI value.

Effects of Ripening Level and Processing Delay on the Characteristics of Oil Palm Fruit Bunches

Palm fresh fruit bunches (FFBs) are raw materials used in CPO mills and produced by palm oil plants. The nature and quality of these raw materials considerably affect the characteristics of the crude palm oil (CPO). The characteristic of crude palm oil (CPO) can be affected by freshness level, ripening of palm fruit bunches, growing sites, poor transportation and harvest and postharvest systems. Amongst the aforementioned factors, the major problems that occur frequently are the ripening level and processing delay of palm fresh fruit bunches (FFBs) and also brondolan (loose fruits from bunches). Harvested FFBs must be optimally ripened to achieve high oil content and must be immediately taken to the factory for processing. Accordingly, the present study aims to evaluate the characteristics of palm oil produced at different ripening levels and processing delay times of palm fruit bunches from oil palm plantations in Ungaran, Central Java, Indonesia. The objects of this research are ripening level (underripe, ripe, overripe and brondolan) and processing delay time (12, 36 and 60 h). Results show that the ripening level and length of processing delay of palm fruit bunches can affect the deterioration of bleachability index (DOBI) value, free fatty acid (FFA) content, oil content, peroxide value (α = 0.05) and profile of fatty acid composition. A long processing delay increases FFA content and peroxide value, but decreases DOBI value and oil content. From the observed parameters, the best results are found on ripe FFBs with a processing delay time of 12 h. The results are still good at 36 h but deteriorated after 60 h.

Potential Environmental and Economic Impacts of Biofuel Production for the Local Community: A Case Study

Biorefinery technology development in Indonesia especially related to production of biofuel from Crude Palm Oil (CPO) and other biomass from oil palm has already been progressing quite significantly during the last ten years. In 2018, Indonesia has implemented B-20 policy where 20% of diesel is blended with biodiesel from CPO. Likewise, researches on development of enzymes for various application including its application in the production of biofuel from CPO and Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunches (OP EFB) through an enzymatic process has also been progressing. However, there is not enough research or information on what are the economic and environmental impact of this biofuel production to local community. Does this biofuel production also provide direct and indirect benefit to local community surrounding oil palm plantation and CPO mills? If it does, How? This paper describes what are specific economic and environmental issues facing by local community and how a biofuel production in the surrounding of local community can get environmental and economic and benefits. This case study was conducted in 2018 at 6 villages in Putri Hijau District, North Bengkulu Regency, Bengkulu Province, Indonesia

Designing a Serious Simulation Game as a Learning Media of Sustainable Supply Chain Management for Biofuel Production

The increasing community awareness of environmental and social issues has ushered in demands for biofuel production companies to focus on sustainability, where they are expected to not only focus on economic benefits, but also to be environmentally friendly and socially responsible. These companies rely on supply chains that now must pay attention to economic, environmental, and social aspects to operate sustainable supply chains. Making the right calls in any situation is a necessary capability to generate a cleaner and aware supply chain management system within the company, with less increased risk or reduced profits. To develop these capabilities, practitioners need to understand the complexities of the sustainable supply chain and conceptualize the entirety of the supply chain. The objective of this study is to provide a learning medium that could increase corporate awareness in utilizing more eco-friendly regulations. The result of this study is the design of a Serious Simulation Game (SSG) that focuses on the purchasing, production, sales, and finance functions, using case studies of companies that run crude palm oil mills, which was proven effective in helping players understand the concepts and complexities that influence sustainable supply chain management.

Optimization of palm oil extraction from Decanter cake of small crude palm oil mill by aqueous surfactant solution using RSM

The use of hexane to extract vegetable oil from oilseeds or seed cake is of growing concern due to its environmental impact such as its smelling and toxicity. In our method, used Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was applied to study the optimum condition of decanter cake obtained from small crude palm oil with aqueous surfactant solution. For the first time, we provide an optimum condition of preliminary study with decanter cake extraction to obtain the maximum of oil yield. The result from preliminary was further used in RSM study by using Central Composite Design (CCD) that consisted of thirty experiments. The effect of four independent variables: the concentration of Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate (SDS) as surfactant, temperature, the ratio by weight to volume of cake to surfactant solution and the amount of sodium chloride (NaCl) on dependent variables are studied. Data were analyzed using Design-Expert 8 software. The results showed that the optimum condition of decanter cake extraction were 0.016M of SDS solution concentration, 73°C of extraction temperature, 1:10 (g:ml) of the ratio of decanter cake to SDS solution and 2% (w/w) of NaCl amount. This condition gave 77.05% (w/w) oil yield. The chemical properties of the extracted palm oil from this aqueous surfactant extraction are further investigated compared with the hexane extraction. The obtained result showed that all properties of both extractions were nearly the same.

Innovative Steam Drying of Empty Fruit Bunch with High Energy Efficiency

Empty fruit bunch (EFB) is one of the solid wastes from crude palm oil mills and has the lowest value for utilization compared to other solid wastes. To achieve an efficient utilization of EFB, drying is considered the first crucial process due to the high moisture content of EFB. In this study, EFB drying based on exergy recovery is proposed to achieve high energy efficiency. A fluidized bed is adopted as the main dryer. The proposed model is evaluated in terms of energy efficiency, especially regarding the influence of target moisture content and fluidization velocity. Up to 92% of the energy involved in the drying process can be recirculated. The total energy consumption for drying decreases as the target moisture content decreases, though there is no significant impact of fluidization velocity to total energy consumption. In addition, the required total length of the heat transfer tubes immersed inside the fluidized bed dryer is calculated because it relates to fluidization performance and economic issues. Lower target moisture content results in a longer heat transfer tube, and higher fluidization velocity leads to a shorter heat transfer tube.

CDM POTENTIAL IN PALM SOLID WASTE COGENERATION AS AN ALTERNATIVE ENERGY IN ACEH PROVINCE

Empty Fruit Bunch (EFB) as a solid waste in Crude Palm Oil (CPO) industry does not utilized yet as an alternative energy source to generate electricity. It is well known that use of solid wate (biomass) as an energy source is part of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) scheme due to direct reduction of Green House Gases (GHGs) emission and provide a direct contribution to sustainable development. Utilization of EFB as a source of energy is very potential to be implemented in Aceh since this province has 25 CPO Mills at the moment which actively produce about 870,000 ton EFB per year. This study is subjected to evaluate the potency of electricity from EFB theoretically by using primary data (survey data) and secondary data. Potency of EFB and number of electricity produced from that EFB are estimated using primary data and direct combustion scenario, respectively. Calculation methods for emission reduction acieved are done by AMS-I.D: Renewable electricity generation to the grid and AMS-III.E: Methane emissions avoided from dumping at a solid waste disposal site. The result of this investigation shows that energy consumption in 25 CPO Mills is 45 GW(e)h per year. Evidently, the number of energy/electricity which is potential to be produced by using 75% EFB is 1,047 GWh per year; so that the GHGs emission reduction up to 171,232.21 tCO2e per year.

Biomass Residue from Palm Oil Mills in Aceh Province: A Potential Usage for Sustainable Energy

Palm oil is one of the major agro industries in Aceh province. There are 25 crude palm oil (CPO) Mills in Aceh located in 8 districts with 551.12 tons/hour total capacity. The mills are concentrated in five districts along the western and eastern coasts, Aceh Utara, Aceh Timur, Aceh Tamiang, Nagan Raya, and Aceh Singkil (including the newly-established municipality of Subullusalam). As the climatic conditions in the Aceh are suitable for palm trees, the oil palm plantation area has expanded every year. The processing of FFB (Fresh fruit bunches) in palm oil mill produced a biomass residue that mainly consist of EFB (Empty fruit bunches), fiber, shells, and POME (Palm oil mill effluent). This study investigates the potential usage of biomass residue from palm oil mills in Aceh province. Results of the study indicated that the fiber and shells are mainly used as fuel for the mill boilers to generate heat and electricity for the whole plant. The EFB is disposed and spread on the plantation, incinerated or dumped in unmanaged sites. The POME is treated in the anaerobic and aerobic ponds, then normally being discharged into waterways or rivers. In some mills, the treated POME was spread to the plantation for fertilizer. Based on investigation on site, it shows that the load factor of the mill is only about 70% of capacity, thus the mills are inefficient since a lot of energy is lost. The use of EFB is very potential to be implemented in Aceh since this province produce of 724,185 ton EFB per year. With the total capacity of 551.12 tons/hour, palm oil mills in Aceh produce about 426.12 tons/hr of POME that also can be converted into energy. If 3.37 million ton FFB are treated in Aceh CPO mills, biogas energy of about 1.51 millions GJ will be produced.

OPTIONS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY OF THE CRUDE PALM OIL INDUSTRY IN THAILAND THROUGH ENHANCEMENT OF INDUSTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS

The crude palm oil industry plays an important role in the economic development of Thailand and in enhancing the economic welfare of the population. Despite obvious benefits of this industrial development, it also significantly contributes to environmental degradation, both at the input and the output sides of its activities. On the input side, crude palm oil mills use large quantities of water and energy in the production process. On the output side, manufacturing processes generate large quantities of wastewater, solid waste/by-products and air pollution. Current industrial wastes and recoverable materials are empty fruit bunches, fibers, shells and ash. It is estimated that in 2003, a total of 2.1 million ton of solid wastes/by-products and 2.5 million m3 of wastewater were generated. The concept of the industrial ecosystem points at the potential of industrial waste recycling resembling food chains, food webs and nutrient cycles of nature. Following the notion of industrial ecology crude palm oil mills can develop a number of waste recycling and reuse systems. This paper analyzes the nature of these industrial ecosystems, divided in in-plant ecosystems (clean technology options) and external waste exchange between crude palm oil industries and other economic activities in Thailand.

Sabahmas expanding crude palm oil mill by 3Q 2003

Sabahmas expanding crude palm oil mill by 3Q 2003

PLC-Based Fuzzy Controller for Sterilizing Process in Crude Palm Oil Mill

Sterilizing is the most critical process in the entire CPO chain of production. A well-maintained sterilizing process results on increasing perfonnance of subsequent processes. Unfortunately, many sterilizing process are still operated manually, thus the performance of human operators determine the quantity and the quality of produced CPO. Imprecision on observation and large time delay between process steps decrease the production capacity and efficiency.Some control systems used in sterilizer only control timing for opening/closing inlet, exhaust and condensate valve for each step in sterilizing process, but not the pressure to be expected. As a consequence, over or under cooking often occurred. In order to solve this problem and to increase efficiency fuzzy controller using PLC equipped with fuzzy module was developed. A PLC-based control system called PLC Sawit Fuzzy Controller (PSFC) is designed to optimize this process and to manage the sterilizing station.

Relationship between laser‐induced fluorescence intensity and crude palm oil quality

AbstractCrude palm oil quality is an important consideration in the production of refined palm oil of consistent high quality. The quality of crude palm oil is determined by the analysis of oxidative and hydrolytic parameters such as peroxide value, anis dine value, free fatty acid content and moisture and impurities, all very time consuming and counter‐productive for both crude palm oil mills and refineries to carry out. This study shows that laser‐induced fluorescence (LIF) analysis can be used as an alternative to analysing all the common oxidative and hydrolytic parameters mentioned. LIF at 673 nm was indicative of the oxidative quality of crude palm oil. There was also positive correlation between fluorescence intensity and the carotene and the deterioration of bleach ability index of crude palm oil, and the Rancimat induction time of the final refined product.