Empty Fruit Bunch Research Articles

Preparation and Charcterisation of Acetate Cellulose Laurate Ester in Sodium Acetate/Zinc Chloride Systems

The objective of this study was to explore the preparation and characterisation of acetate cellulose laurate ester in sodium acetate/zinc chloride systems. The cellulose used in the study was obtained from oil palm empty fruit bunch and oil palm frond. The characterization of both the isolated cellulose and the acetate cellulose laurate ester was carried out using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Differential thermogravimetric (DTG), and Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The FT-IR analysis of the acetate cellulose laurate ester revealed the presence of C=O, confirming its modification. The crystallinity of the isolated cellulose and the acetate cellulose laurate ester was found to be 67-72% and 51-54%, respectively. The thermal stability of the isolated and modified cellulose esters was found to be 360-340 ℃ and 380-365 ℃, respectively. The solubility test showed that the prepared acetate cellulose laurate esters were soluble in different solvents. However, this study found that the synthesis of acetate cellulose laurate ester in an aqueous medium is not feasible. The improved hydrophobic character, good thermal stability, water retention value, and excellent solubility in different solvents of the acetate cellulose laurate ester reported in this study make it a potential material for applications in bioplastics, and packaging materials.

Effect of toughening agent and flame‐retardant additives on the recycled polypropylene/oil palm empty fruit bunch laminated composites

AbstractThe increasing awareness of the environmental problems caused by the use of plastics has led to a demand for sustainable materials. The concept of turning waste into wealth has been considered in the study where the waste materials are value‐added into new composite materials that are recyclable, durable, and fire‐resistant. This effort aims to meet global environmental goals and the demand for high‐performance and sustainable building materials. The purpose of this current study is to develop laminated composites based on the combination of recycled plastic and oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB). The addition of various loading of ammonium polyphosphate (APP) and 6 wt% of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) in the formulation was considered to enhance the performance of the composite laminates. The rPP and additives were compounded using a two‐roll mill. Then the rPP sheet and OPEFB were laminated using compression molding techniques. Results showed that rPP with addition of 30 wt% APP and 6 wt% EVA exhibited the highest thermal stability and the lowest melt flow index (MFI) value compared to other samples. Composites with 20 wt% APP and 6 wt% EVA showed 56% increase in flexural properties and 33% increase in impact strength compared to that of rPP/OPEFB composite sample without EVA. Addition of 30 wt% in recycled PP and OPEFB demonstrated self‐extinguished properties when exposed to fire compared to other samples. These findings indicated that rPP/OPEFB laminated composites with the addition of APP and EVA have a potential to be used in applications that require good strength and fire performance. The use of rPP/OPEFB composites with addition of APP and EVA has a potential to reduce virgin plastic consumption and agriculture material waste and establishing an environmentally friendly material for construction sector.Highlights Additives included in recycled PP enhance its thermal stability and reduce MFI. Recycled PP with OPEFB composite self‐extinguished at 30 wt% APP. The highest flexural strength is shown by composite laminates with 20 wt% APP and 6 wt% EVA. rPP/OPEFB laminates are ideal for building materials.

Nitrogen-doped activated carbon derived from oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) for sustainable lithium-ion battery

Nitrogen-doped activated carbon derived from oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) for sustainable lithium-ion battery

Production and Characterization of Bio-oil Derived from Empty Fruit Bunch (EFB) using Fast Pyrolysis

Production and Characterization of Bio-oil Derived from Empty Fruit Bunch (EFB) using Fast Pyrolysis

Evaluating the efficacy of palm waste in adsorption processes for wastewater treatment: A review

AbstractThe growing environmental concerns related to industrial effluents and waste underscore the urgent need for sustainable and cost‐effective wastewater treatment solutions. This review investigates the efficacy of palm waste‐derived adsorbents for removing heavy metals and organic pollutants from wastewater. It explores various modifications—including physical, chemical, and nanomaterial enhancements—applied to palm waste materials such as palm kernel shells, empty fruit bunches, and palm oil fuel ash, aimed at improving their adsorption capacities. The review reveals that these modified palm waste adsorbents demonstrate high removal efficiencies for contaminants like Cu(II), Pb(II), and organic dyes, often surpassing conventional adsorbents. Nonetheless, challenges remain, such as optimizing adsorbent preparation, understanding adsorption mechanisms in multi‐component systems, and enhancing adsorbent reusability. This review highlights the need for continued research to address these issues and advance the application of palm waste‐based materials in sustainable wastewater treatment.

Conversion of Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch Fiber Waste into Green Liquid Organic Fertilizer

Solid wastes generated from the oil palm industry contain valuable nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium that can significantly enhance plant growth and potentially elevate fertilizer production. This study aims to identify the optimal formulation of liquid organic fertilizer (LOF) derived from oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) fiber waste. Three formulations of LOF were prepared, comprising OPEFB waste, molasses, noni fruit, and cattle urine, designated as Formulation A, B, and C. These formulations underwent a 14-day anaerobic incubation period. The formulated OPEFB LOF was then analyzed for nutrient content, electrical conductivity, and total dissolved solids. This study also examines the soil properties and plant growth outcomes following the application of the formulated OPEFB LOF. The results indicated that Formulation A exhibited the highest nutrient concentrations, specifically 485 ppm nitrogen, 95 ppm phosphorus, and 1007 ppm potassium. In comparison to the other two OPEFB LOF formulations, Formulation A showed the lowest values for total dissolved solids (502 ppm) and electrical conductivity (8.14 dS/m). The findings demonstrated that Formulation A displayed the most favorable growth characteristics in terms of leaf count, plant height, leaf length, and leaf width. This is attributed to the nitrogen-boosting properties of cattle urine, along with the complementary effects of molasses and noni fruit as soil improver and bio-activator. This study confirms the viability of utilizing green organic fertilizer derived from OPEFB substrate in agriculture, replacing conventional inorganic fertilizers.

Utilization of Agricultural Waste as a Total Mixed Ratio Pellet Material for Rex Rabbit Feed

This study aimed to evaluate the quality of Total Mixed Ration (TMR) pellets derived from agricultural waste and assess their potential as feed for Rex rabbits. The research employed an experimental approach, utilizing agricultural and plantation waste to produce TMR pellets. The study was conducted in two stages: pellet production and rabbit feeding trials. Three formulations of TMR pellets were developed with varying concentrations of oil palm empty fruit bunches (EFB): P1 (5% EFB), P2 (10% EFB), and P3 (15% EFB). The optimal formulation was subsequently used for the feeding trials. Rabbit feed treatments included T0 (60% commercial pellet + 40% forage), T1 (40% commercial pellet + 20% TMR pellet + 40% forage), T2 (30% commercial pellet + 30% TMR pellet + 40% forage), and T3 (60% TMR pellet + 40% forage). Results from the pellet analysis indicated no significant differences in organoleptic properties among the formulations. The durability test yielded the highest value of 98.77%, while the proximate analysis of the P1 formulation showed a dry matter content of 85.67%, ash content of 10.35%, organic matter of 89.65%, crude protein of 18.65%, crude fat of 18.72%, and crude fiber of 19.18%. In the rabbit feeding trials, there were no significant differences in rabbit performance when compared to those fed with commercial pellets. Based on these findings, it can be concluded that agricultural waste can be effectively utilized as a raw material for rabbit feed pellets, offering comparable quality to commercial alternatives. This research highlights the potential of agricultural waste in reducing environmental pollution while providing an economically viable alternative for animal feed.

Experimental study of hydrothermal treatment for reducing potassium content on palm oil empty fruit bunch (EFB)

Abstract This study investigated the effects of the potassium content of EFB biochars after hydrothermal treatment (HT). The experiments were carried out in a 3000 mL reactor and treated for 60 min. Two parameters were studied in detail: water (liquid) to EFB (solid) ratio or L/S (5:1 and 10:1) and varied temperature (150, 180, 210, and 230°C). The ash content of biochars decreased gradually due to the increasing temperature, with values varying from 6.55% to 12.79%. The sodium of the treated biochars was removed entirely for each HT process, while the potassium notably reduced with the removal efficiency reached 75.34-93.79%. HT at temperature 230°C was the optimum condition to reduce the Agglomeration Index (AI), which 230H5 and 230H10 resulted in 0.26 and 0.31, respectively. Although the mass yield significantly reduced, the 230H5 was highly recommended when used for co-combustion fuel because it had the highest HHV (21.36 MJ/kg), the lowest AI (0.26), and the high removal efficiency of potassium (93.76%).

Enhancing thermophilic methane production from oil palm empty fruit bunches through various pretreatment methods: A comparative study

This study investigated the effects of various pretreatment methods on the anaerobic digestibility of oil palm empty fruit bunches (EFB) for methane production. Pretreatment methods included weak alkaline (2 % Ca(OH)2), weak acid (2 % acetic acid), acidified palm oil mill effluent (POME), biogas effluent, hydrothermal (180 °C, 190 °C, and 200 °C), and microwave pretreatments. All pretreatment methods enhanced methane yield compared to untreated EFB (189.45 mL-CH4/g-VS), with weak alkaline pretreatment being the most effective (277.11 mL-CH4/g-VS), followed by hydrothermal pretreatment at 180 °C (244.33 mL-CH4/g-VS) and biogas effluent pretreatment (238.32 mL-CH4/g-VS). The enhanced methane yield was attributed to increased cellulose content (45.5 % for weak alkaline pretreatment), reduced hemicellulose (18.0 % for hydrothermal pretreatment at 200 °C), and lignin contents (19.0 % for hydrothermal pretreatment at 200 °C), decreased crystallinity index (40.0 % for hydrothermal pretreatment at 200 °C), and increased surface area. Weak alkaline pretreatment also showed the highest net energy balance (8.73 kJ/g-VS) and a short break-even point (2 years). Microbial community analysis revealed that weak alkaline pretreatment favored the growth of syntrophic acetate-oxidizing bacteria and hydrogenotrophic methanogens, contributing to improved methane yield. This study demonstrates the potential of EFB pretreatment, particularly weak alkaline and biogas effluent pretreatment, for enhancing methane production and sustainable management of palm oil mill waste.

Furfural purification and production from prospective agricultural waste of oil palm empty fruit bunch: Simulation, design and economic assessments

Furfural is potentially produced from lignocellulose waste of biorefinery processes and is widely used as a value-added in various chemical industries. However, the purification of furfural should be conducted to obtain high purity. This work aims to synthesize, design, and optimize the furfural production using some alternative distillation processes by simulation using Super Pro and ASPEN software. The pretreatment process of producing crude furfural from empty fruit bunch waste is also evaluated. The production cost of $0.23/kg of crude furfural (5%) was obtained in the preliminary process. In the purification process, the sequenced distillation process was less prospective than the extractive distillation based on the simulation basis and economic evaluation. The extractive distillation using n-butyl chloride performed better than toluene and benzene as the furfural recovery, and the purity was 98.60% and 99.94%, respectively. The payback period (PBP), internal rate return (IRR), and net present value (NPV) also indicated the great performance of the extractive distillation process with values of 1.24 years, 36.04%, and $14,591,500, respectively. Therefore, the simulation, design, and economic evaluation presented promising results that are feasible for plant establishment.

Low temperature combustion and ash deposition characteristics of palm oil and forest replanting waste

This study evaluation and analysis the low-temperature combustion characteristics and ash deposition of palm oil waste, including palm kernel shell (PKS) and empty fruit bunch (EFB), as well as forestry waste in the form of rubber wood (RBW) and replanting waste (RPW). The experiments were conducted using a drop tube furnace at 900 ᵒC, which is considered a low temperature compared to the operating temperature of pulverized coal. The thermogravimetric method (TGA) was applied to understand the combustion properties of the biomass, while the ash deposition tendency was assessed through empirical calculations, combustion experiments, and direct observation of the ash produced. The results showed that RBW had the best combustion performance compared to the other samples. Although RPW has the highest ash fusion temperature value among all samples, with a value above 1200 ᵒC, the low-melting-point mineral phase such as fairchildite, produced at low-temperature combustion at 24.74%, increases the risk of ash sticking to metal surfaces. PKS and EFB produce very high albite mineral content of more than 60%, which has a low melting point and could potentially cause ash deposition problems. On the other hand, RBW, with a dominant content of SiO2 (21.79%), Al2O3 (20.24%), and MgO (8.03%), produces minerals dominated by quartz at up to 78% and magnesioferrite at more than 5%, both of which have a high melting point that tends to produce harmless ash. These findings provide insight into the potential of utilizing biomass in low-temperature combustion processes, which is a way of reducing waste and lowering greenhouse gas emissions.

Parametric study on mechanical-press torrefaction of palm oil empty fruit bunch for production of biochar

This study investigated the impact of varying temperatures and pressures during torrefaction under mechanical compression on the mass yield and chemical properties of torrefied empty fruit bunch (MTEFB). It also examined how these factors influenced the biochar derived from MTEFB. Experiments were conducted at temperatures ranging from 240 °C to 300 °C and mechanical pressures of 25, 50, and 75 MPa. The results indicated that at all temperatures above 280 °C, mass yields were significantly reduced, and higher mechanical pressures further accelerated thermal degradation. FTIR analysis revealed structural modifications, including dehydration, decarboxylation, and demethylation, particularly at elevated pressures. Elemental analysis showed an increase in carbon content to 55.68 % when MTEFB was prepared at 300 °C and 75 MPa. The HHV reached 23.11 MJ/kg, indicating improved energy yield. The proximate analysis demonstrated an increase in fixed carbon to 26.32 %, highlighting the influence of temperature and pressure on biochar characteristics. Further carbonization at 600 °C of MTEFB, which was prepared under mechanical-press torrefaction conditions at 300 °C with 75 MPa, produced biochar with enhanced yield and a more graphitic structure. The combination of mechanical-press torrefaction and subsequent carbonization presented a promising pathway for producing high-quality biochar and other solid carbon materials.

Sonication-assisted Activation of Empty Fruit Bunches to Produce Activated Carbon for Supercapacitor’s Electrodes: Surface Chemistry and Morphology Characterization.

Thermochemical treatment of empty fruit bunches (EFBs) had been proven to be the fastest way of converting this agro-industrial waste into value. Two-step carbonization and activation was used to convert the EFB to activated carbon with high specific surface area (SSA) and porosity. Hydrothermal carbonization was done at 225 to 275 ; at retention time of 1 to 3 h. Activation was done at 800 for 1 h, using KOH at two different concentrations. The BET surface area, porosity and surface functional groups of the activated carbon were investigated. The samples experienced change in colourations, with the degree of colouration increases with the time and temperature of the reaction. The increase in these parameters also led to increase in the alkane functional groups and corresponding decreased in the hydroxyl functional groups. The specific surface area was measured using BET and maximum surface of 1375.26 m2/g was obtained when the biomass was carbonized at 275 for 1 h, and activated at 800 using KOH at a concentration of 1:1 to the hydrochar. Ultrasonic post-treatment of the activated carbon enhanced the BET surface area and pore volume to about 1.13 and 1.16 times, respectively. The corresponding pore diameter and volume at this optimum condition were 3.32 nm and 0.73 cm3/g, respectively. The material demonstrated a high specific surface area for electronic and ionic diffusions.

Application of oil palm and cacao waste biochar to improve the chemical properties of an Ultisol of Langsa, Aceh

Ultisols, including those of Langsa, Aceh, are known to have low fertility due to low pH, low available nutrients, low base saturation, high pH and exchangeable Al, and low cation exchange capacity. These problems can be alleviated by applying organic amendments to the soil. One of the soil amendments is biochar. This study aimed to elucidate the potential of oil palm and cacao waste biochar for improving the chemical properties of an Ultisol of Langsa, Aceh. Biochars generated from oil palm kernel shell (PKS), oil palm empty fruit bunch (PEFB), and cacao pod husk (CPH) were applied to the soil and incubated in the laboratory for 16 weeks. At 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks after incubation, the changes in soil chemical properties were measured. The results showed that applying different types of biochar significantly improved the chemical properties of the Ultisol of Langsa. Specifically, PEFB biochar caused significant increases in soil pH (H2O and KCl), total phosphorus, available phosphorus, organic C, and cation exchange capacity. These increases became more pronounced with longer incubation times. In addition, using PEFB biochar resulted in the lowest levels of exchangeable Al and Fe in the soil. These levels decreased further with longer incubation times. In general, PEFB biochar produced at a pyrolysis temperature of 450oC for 4 hours is the most effective biochar for improving the chemical properties of the Ultisol of Langsa.

Optimization of microwave-assisted hydrolysis of glucose from oil palm empty fruit bunch

Hydrolysis of oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFB) using microwave as an energy source is carried out to produce sugar with mild operating conditions. One way to find the best conditions that can obtain high-quality sugar is to optimize the hydrolysis process. In this study, optimization was carried out using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) with a Central Composite Design (CCD) experimental design. Estimated variables to affect the hydrolysis process are the ratio of OPEFB to solvent (X1: 1:20-4:20 g/ml), solvent concentration (X2: 0.5-1.5%), and hydrolysis time (X3: 5-15 minutes). Hydrolysis success parameters were measured by hydrolysis temperature (Y1), glucose (Y2), fructose (Y3), and total sugar (Y4) concentration. The optimization results show that the three independent variables contribute 53.25% to the hydrolysis temperature and 86.42% to the sugar concentration. The recommended operating conditions were hydrolysis with the ratio of OPEFB to solvent of 4:20 g/ml, 0.50% solvent concentration, and done for 10 minutes. The hydrolysis temperature cannot be optimized because there is a mismatch in the temperature model analysis. The application of these conditions is predicted to produce glucose, fructose, and total sugar of 315.51; 258.24; 573.85 mg/L. The last step is to validate these conditions in the laboratory to get the actual value. Actual glucose, fructose, and total sugar obtained were 300.40; 245.44; 545.84 mg/L. The error in this study is less than 5% which indicates the actual value is following the predicted value. © 2001 Elsevier Science. All rights reserved

Enhanced Hydrophobicity and Oleophilicity of Modified Activated Carbons Derived from Agro-Wastes Biomass for the Removal of Crude Oil from Aqueous Medium

Crude oil spillage has tremendous environmental impacts and poses severe pollution problems worldwide due to the continuous activities and operations in the oil and gas sector. This has resulted in the urgent need for clean-up techniques such as the use of natural adsorbents which is considered a relatively low-cost, readily-available, efficient, eco-friendly, and easy-to-deploy mode of addressing oil spillage due to its high oil sorption capacity/efficiency, high oil selectivity, oleophilic, enduring, reusability and biodegradable properties. Empty palm fruit bunch and coconut coir were used as precursors to produce activated carbons for oil spill remediation. The influence of varying parameters was investigated using a batch experimental procedure resulting in the crude oil adsorption capacity increasing with a corresponding increase in contact time, initial oil concentration, temperature, agitation speed, and particle size but decreasing in adsorbent dosage. The combination of surface morphological modification and hydrophobicity enhancement resulted in significantly improved adsorption capacity for crude oil removal (2710.0 mg/g and 4859.5 mg/g for EPFBAC<SUB>LA</SUB> and CCAC<SUB>L.A</SUB> respectively), as evidenced by both FTIR and SEM analyses. The experimental isotherm data were analysed using various isotherm models and the best-fitted isotherm model was the Freundlich model with a correlation coefficient (R<sup>2 </sup>= 0.991 and R<sup>2 </sup>= 0.999) for EPFB<SUB>L.A</SUB> and CCAC<SUB>L.A</SUB> respectively. The kinetic behaviour of the adsorption process was best described by pseudo-second order with R<sup>2</sup> values of 0.970 and 0.999 for EPFBAC<SUB>LA</SUB> and CCAC<SUB>L.A</SUB> respectively while Boyd model revealed that the adsorption was controlled by an internal transport mechanism and film diffusion was the rate-limiting step. The crude oil adsorption was chemisorption and endothermic owing to the positive enthalpy values (ΔH<sup>o</sup> = 183.890 KJ/mol for EPFBAC<SUB>L.A </SUB>and ΔH<sup>o</sup> = 69.656 KJ/mol for CCAC<SUB>L.A</SUB>), the positive value of entropy suggested that the adsorption process was accompanied by an increase in the degree of randomness or disorder at the interface between the adsorbent and the adsorbate. A temperature rise led to a decline in Gibbs energy (ΔG<sup>o</sup>), suggesting that adsorption became more feasible and spontaneous at higher temperatures and the significant activation energies indicated the existence of a substantial energy barrier that must be overcome to initiate the reaction. The results showed the significant capability of the prepared adsorbents to be used as a low-cost, re-generable and eco-friendly adsorbent in oil spill clean-up and is recommended to exploit its usage on a large scale.

Pengaruh Variasi Ukuran Partikel pada Pembuatan Bio-Briket dari Pelepah dan Tandan Buah Kosong Kelapa Sawit

Palm oil empty fruit bunches (EFB) and fronds are solid waste originating from palm oil processing which can be used as the main raw material for making briquettes. This is supported by its contents, namely lignin, hemicellulose and cellulose. The smaller the particle size, the greater the compressive strength of the briquette, but the burning rate will be slower because the cavity/pores of the briquette are smaller. This research aims to determine the effect of particle (mesh) size on the characteristics of briquettes which include water content, ash content, density, compressive strength and burning rate as well as to determine the best composition of a mixture of empty oil palm fruit bunches and fronds. The results of this research show that the best particle size is 70 mesh briquettes with a raw material composition of 46% EFB and 46% fronds (1:1) with 8% tapioca flour adhesive. Biobriquettes with small particle sizes have lower calorific value. The results of this research indicate that the manufacture of briquettes is in accordance with the Standard Characteristics of SNI No. 1/6235/2000.

Concentration and crystallization of Microbial Xylitol from oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) using submerged direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD)

Xylitol possess high solubility in water and increase viscosity at high temperature, making the concentration process become challenging. This study demonstrated the applicability of Membrane Distillation (MD) in concentrating xylitol solutions and evaluates its performance at different conditions and feed compositions. MD was capable of concentrating pure xylitol solution to reach the supersaturated condition. However, when Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch (OPEFB) hydrolysate fermentation broth was used, fouling was observed due to the presence of impurities, despite the application of feed agitation. The batch crystallization of xylitol were conducted at 5 °C with a seed addition of 0.5–0.8%-wt. Higher seed concentrations were required to induce crystallization in OPEFB hydrolysate due to lower xylitol concentrations and impurity presence. Furthermore, impurities influenced the quality of the crystals, resulting in crystal purities of 98.98% and 94.56% in the synthetic solution and OPEFB hydrolysate, respectively. These findings indicated notable impact of crystallization temperature, seed addition, and impurity on xylitol crystallization.

Novel Fungicide from Waste Oil Palm Fruit Bunch for Sustainable Management of Tomato Wilt Disease Caused by Fusarium oxysporum - experimental and in silico studies

Tomato wilt, a widespread and persistent disease caused by the fungus Fusarium oxysporum, can be effectively controlled through biological approaches, promoting ecosystem sustainability and enhancing agricultural productivity and quality. This study explored the use of empty oil palm fruit bunch (EOPFB) waste as a natural fungicide to control tomato Fusarium wilt disease through in vitro, pilot scale, and molecular docking experiments. EOPFB aqueous extract showed the highest mycelium growth inhibition of 68.3 %, with the commercial fungicide Mancozeb exhibiting a moderate 42.30 % inhibition, and sterile distilled water having a negligible effect of 0.24 %. The inhibition rate varied with concentration, peaking at 72.63 % at 0.15 g/mL and dropping to 54.80 % at 0.01 g/mL. In terms of wilt disease incidence and severity, EOPFB performed best, recording the lowest incidence of 47.20 % and severity of 15.58 %. Mancozeb followed closely, with an incidence of 46.30 % and severity of 26.23 %. Sterile distilled water, on the other hand, showed the highest incidence of 76.28 % and severity of 56.17 %. Molecular docking simulations corroborated the experimental results, validating the potency of EOPFB as an inhibitor of trypsin from F. oxysporum, and identifying 2-amino-5,6-dimethyl-3 H-pyrimidine-4-one as the primary active compound responsible for the fungicidal activity. This phytochemical, abundant in the crude ethanolic extract of EOPFB, was found to have a higher binding affinity (6.1 kcal/mol) than Mancozeb (4.8 kcal/mol), at the trypsin target. These findings demonstrate the potential of EOPFB, an agricultural waste product, as a sustainable and eco-friendly solution for managing tomato Fusarium wilt disease, contributing to increased tomato production. It also highlights the potential of 2-amino-5,6-dimethyl-3 H-pyrimidine-4-one as a lead compound for the development of novel, natural fungicides, and underscores the value of EOPFB as a rich source of bioactive compounds with agricultural and biotechnological applications.

Effect of Feedstock Blends and Equivalence Ratio on the Thermal Arc Plasma Assisted Co-Gasification of Biomass and Plastic using Air-Blown Downdraft Reactor

Plastic waste is known to cause an emerging environmental pollution, posing risks to both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Co-gasification method is an alternative way to reduce municipal solid waste and plastic waste by converting it into useful gas fuel energy. The present study used empty fruit bunch biomass (EFB), plastic waste of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) as a feedstock for thermochemical conversion process into syngas fuel energy via plasma co-gasification method. The effect of multiple feedstocks mixture between biomass and plastic and equivalence ratio on the compositions of produced syngas, high heating value (HHV), lower heating value (LHV), cold gas efficiency (CGE) and carbon conversion efficiency (CCE) were critically investigated. A reactor of air-blown downdraft arrangement was used in these experiments. The gasifying agent flow rate of air was set at the frequency range of 10 to 22Hz to achieve equivalence ratio between 0.15 to 0.30. The blending ratio (BR) between biomass and plastic (EFB:Plastic) were set as E90:P10, E80:P20 and E70:P30. The results indicate that H2 and CO composition is typically decrease as ER increase for the mixture of EFB and LDPE. In contrast, the composition of H2 and CO is generally increase as ER increases. However, the maximum value of H2 and CO is dominated by the mixture of EFB and LDPE at any blending ratio and lower ER condition. This is due to the higher element of H, C and O in the raw material of EFB and LDPE compared to PET. This study is crucial in understanding the synergistic effect of co-gasification assisted with plasma reaction between biomass and plastic waste.