Empty Fruit Research Articles

The potential of oil palm empty fruit bunches from Blitar Regency Indonesia as a filling material for NPK slow-release fertilizer

Abstract There is a clear gap between the mechanism of slow-release fertilizer (SRF) to promote plant growth and the prominent role of nanocomposites as filler materials for SRF synthesis. However, the production source of oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFB) is considered to influence its characteristics as a filler in new materials. This research aims to review the characteristics of OPEFB from Blitar Regency, East Java Province, Indonesia as a filling material for NPK-SRF fertilizer. The characteristics of OPEFB consist of analysis of nutritional content using proximate, nutritional content using Van Soest, morphology and topography using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), crystal phase using X-ray diffraction (XRD), and chemical compound composition using Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The identification results show that OPEFB has the potential to be used as a filler in NPK-SRF production. This can be seen from the high cellulose content (41.7%), with quite similar crystallinity index as native OPEFB fibers. The morphology of OPEFB shows a porous structure with a not uniform pore distribution, pore channel structure, and a not-quite-smooth pore surface. However, slight modifications to the cellulose from OPEFB need to be made, such as purifying it into a single nano-sized cellulose.

Study on Co-Digestion of Palm Oil Mill Effluent and Empty Fruit Bunches to Improve Biogas Production in Palm Oil Mill

Study on Co-Digestion of Palm Oil Mill Effluent and Empty Fruit Bunches to Improve Biogas Production in Palm Oil Mill

Transesterification of used cooking oil by palm lignocellulosic biomass magnetic biochar catalyst: Optimization and kinetic analysis

Biodiesel has recently gained popularity as an alternative biofuel to substitute fossil fuel. Utilization of magnetic biochar catalyst (MBC) in biodiesel production can enhance the catalyst separation process. In this research, MBC was synthesized from oil palm waste such as palm kernel shell (PKS), oil palm frond (OFP), and empty fruit bunch (EFB). Biodiesel production parameters were studied using the Central Composite Design-based Response Surface Method. Based on the characterization results, EFB is the most suitable palm lignocellulosic biomass for MBC synthesis. The MBC has a BET surface area of 44.42 m2 g−1, an average acid density value of 3.85 mmol g−1, and a σs value of 3.19 Am2 kg−1. MBC synthesis is at its optimal by using 1.5 M FeCl3·6H2O solution, 800 °C carbonization temperature, and 2.5 M H2SO4. The optimized transesterification parameters are: catalyst loading of 10.25 wt%, methanol to oil molar ratio of 28, 70 °C, and 8 h gave a maximum fatty acid methyl ester yield of 91.50 %. After five cycles, the yield dropped to 67.37 %. Biodiesel production is reported to be the pseudo-irreversible first-order kinetic with an activation energy of 29.20 kJ mol−1. The physicochemical characterization showed the biodiesel has met the ASTM D6751 standard.

Syngas Production Through Non Catalytic Gasification of Empty Fruit Bunch and Catalytics Using Natural Bentonite

Syngas Production Through Non Catalytic Gasification of Empty Fruit Bunch and Catalytics Using Natural Bentonite

Studi Alkalisasi Serat Tandan Kosong Kelapa Sawit Sebagai Penguat Komposit Material Akustik.

The use of empty oil palm fruit bunches as reinforcement in making composite boards has been carried out. Palm oil empty bunch fiber was obtained in the Kotabaru area, South Kalimantan. Palm oil empty fruit bunch fiber is hydrophilic which causes low adhesive properties between the fiber and the matrix so it is necessary to alkalize with 3% NaOH for 5 hours first. Alkalization has increased the cellulose content by 19.36% and reduced the lignin component by 9.04% and other components, such as hemicellulose, pectin, fat and others by 59.63%. Making composite boards uses the hand lay-up method and has succeeded in improving physical and mechanical properties. Water content according to SNI. The acoustic performance of composite boards shows significant results. The acoustic properties of composite boards without alkalization are sound absorbing, while with alkalization they are reflective. These results are supported by FTIR and SEM morphology results, which show that the interfacial bonding properties between the fiber and the matrix increase, thereby changing the acoustic performance of the TKKS composite board.Keywords: Alkalization, hand lay-up, acoustic performance, absorption, reflection.

Effect of treatment conditions on the morphology of date empty fruit bunch lignocellulosic fiber for biocomposite applications

The fiber of the empty date fruit is one of the waste products left after the date fruit is harvested from the date palm. Optimization of the treatment parameters as well as the economics of the treatment process are critical to the successful commercialization of the treatment of natural fibers for the production of biocomposites. Of the natural fiber treatment methods described in previous work, hot water and alkali treatments are the most cost-effective, which justified the choice of these treatment methods in this work. Here, date empty fruit bunch fibers were pulverized to a particle size of 0–500 µm and then treated with boiling water at 100 °C for 3 h or with sodium hydroxide at different concentrations (2, 5, 10%) for 3 h at room temperature with constant stirring at 800 rpm. To confirm the effect of temperature on the fiber treatment, another fiber sample was treated at a 5% concentration of sodium hydroxide solution at an elevated temperature of 80 °C for the same period and stirring condition. The untreated and treated DEFB fibers were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Chemical analysis of the fibers showed that DEFB fiber treated with 5% sodium hydroxide solution at room temperature had the highest cellulose content (52.0%), which was also confirmed by the XRD analysis. The DEFB fiber treated with boiling water exhibited higher thermal stability while the sodium hydroxide-treated fiber exhibited higher crystallinity index and cellulose content. Apparently, DEFB fiber treated with sodium hydroxide solution at 5% concentration for 3 h at room temperature for continuous stirring at 800 rpm offered the best properties. The treated fibers are expected to be viable reinforcement in the production of biocomposites with the goal of achieving energy efficiency. The developed materials could be used in industrial applications such as insulating building systems, automotive parts, and home furniture.

Optimizing oil palm farming: Soil quality, fertilization and agro-environmental performance

The essential role of fertilization in the management of oil palm plantations cannot be overstated, with the understanding that effective strategies must be fine-tuned to accommodate the diversity of soil types present. The nuanced response of oil palm to fertilization under different soil conditions underscores the critical nature of this research. This study investigates the relationship between oil palm farming practices and agro-environmental performance of plantations. This research aims to understand the complex mechanisms influencing plantation productivity. Five agronomic field experiments were carried out on various soil types (Podzol, Inceptisol, Peat) during 2022. These experiments involved various types of soil and used different plant materials in a total land area of 33 hectares. The results of the peat soil trials revealed a positive effect of RP fertilizer on leaf phosphorus (P) content and a visible gradient in potassium (K) content with different doses of KCl. Average plantation yields peaked in 2022, showing the best yields ever recorded. On the contrary, experiments in podzolic soils showed that oil palm responded better to organic fertilizers than to mineral fertilizers in podzolic soils. The inceptisol soil revealed a significant increase in leaf potassium (K) content with KCl dose, confirming the positive effect of fresh oil palm empty fruit bunches (EFB) on potassium levels. In particular, EFB acts as a good K fertilizer, positively influencing the K content but negatively affecting the calcium content (Ca) due to K/Ca antagonism. These findings emphasize the need for diversified agricultural strategies to optimize oil palm cultivation, increase productivity, and reduce dependence on external input.

Potential of Solid Waste from Palm Oil as Fuel for Steam Power Plants in Palm Oil Factories

This research aims to analyze the potential electric energy contained in the by-products and processed waste of palm oil. Biomass derived from palm oil by-products can serve as an alternative source of energy, with potential calorific value to generate electricity from boilers or as renewable energy. While solid waste from palm oil by-products is commonly utilized as boiler fuel and fertilizer, it holds promise as a renewable energy source in its entirety. The research process includes problem identification, formulation, determination of research objectives, literature review, field surveys, primary data collection through observation and interviews, data analysis, and presentation of research results. Field observations from several visited palm oil mills reveal that solid waste by-products typically consist of 5-7% shell, 11-14% fiber, and 20-22% Empty Fruit Bunches (EFB) per ton of processed Fresh Fruit Bunches (FFB). Considering the maximum electricity requirement for processing 30 tons/hour and the potential electrical energy contained in each waste type, utilizing fiber waste alone as boiler fuel is sufficient, offering a potential electrical energy of 542.1 kW. Any excess electrical power generated (580 kW) by the boiler can be sourced from shell waste, enabling surplus electricity to be sold to external parties. With the surplus electrical power estimated at 130 – 70 kW/hour, operating for 20 hours per day yields a surplus of 1.4 – 2.6 MW/day from processing. The calorific value of solid palm oil waste is notably affected by its moisture content. Proper management of fiber waste utilization can effectively fulfill the energy needs of palm oil mills. Additionally, there is potential to sell approximately 648 – 686 kW of electrical energy externally, derived from shell waste and EFB.

Optimization of Ultrasound-enhanced Subcritical Water Hydrolysis of Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch for the Production of Fermentable Sugar

To enhance the hydrolysis to produce fermentable sugar, oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) has undergone ultrasonication pretreatment prior to subjection to subcritical water hydrolysis. This work aims to optimize the effect of temperature, reaction time, and the concentration of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) as the surfactant, with the primary aim of maximizing sugar production in the subcritical water hydrolysis process applied to oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB). The pretreatment process conditions were optimized using response surface methodology of the central composite design (RSM–CCD). The experimental design includes three factors and levels, with a range of 180–220 °C temperature (X1), 60–80 minutes process time (X2), and 1–5% w/w SDS concentration (X3), an α value of 1.68, and reducing sugar concentration (g/L) as response (Y1). The optimum condition for subcritical water hydrolysis of OPEFB was obtained at 208 °C, 78 minutes, and 2.6% w/w SDS concentration with an expected yield of 6.09 g/L. As a result, reducing sugar produced by enzymatic hydrolysis increased by 324.7% compared to raw OPEFB, with sugar yield of 45.64% after 36 hours. Along these, changes in crystallinity, chemical composition, lignocellulosic functional groups, and morphology were analyzed to determine the impact of the pre-treatment on OPEFB.

Kinetic and combustion characteristics of oil palm empty fruit bunch biochar using thermogravimetric analysis

The usage of renewable energy is a mitigation phenomenon majorly impacting the power sectors, with biomass being one of the sources directly replacing coal in various applications. This leads to the portrayal of biomass having the potential to be a carbonaceous material, namely the Empty Fruit Bunch (EFB) of oil palm. To increase the characteristics of EFB, it can be converted into carbon-based products through thermochemical processes, such as hydrothermal carbonization. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the characteristics of feedstock and biochar EFB using the TGA method. The heating rate used in this study is 10 – 30°C/min at five °C/min intervals. The effect of heating rate on kinetic parameters and thermal (DTG, TGA) and combustion (T ignition, T burn out) characteristics was also determined. This study carried out the HTC process at temperatures of 210ᵒC and 230ᵒC. The results showed that biochar EFB had a higher ignition, burnout temperature, and activation energy than raw EFB. Ignition temperatures for EFB-HT210°C and EFB-HT230°C were 297°C and 298°C; burnout temperatures for EFB-HT210°C, EFB-HT230°C were 407°C and 450°C; and the activation energy for EFB-HT210°C, EFB-HT230°C were 58.84 kJ/mol and 62.16 kJ/mol. Besides the characteristics of biomass, the heating rate also affects combustion. This proved that increased heating rate caused higher ignition and burnout temperature and decreased activation energy. The results also indicated that the difference in heating rate influenced the peak temperature in DTG.

Lead and cadmium content in soil, oil palm fiber, and palm kernel in the oil palm plantation with mulch application

Solid waste in palm oil mills is waste that has the potential to have a negative impact on the environment if not used properly. One of the solid wastes from palm oil mills is empty fruit bunche (EFB) which can be used as mulch on oil palm land. The mulch and inorganic fertilizer used can contain heavy metals, such as Pb and Cd. This study was aimed to assess the heavy metal content of Pb and Cd in the soil, fibers and kernels of oil palm fruit. This study evaluated the Pb and Cd content in the soil at depths of 0 – 20 cm and 20 – 40 cm, palm fiber and palm kernel. The results showed of the study showed that the Pb and Cd content of soil on land applied with inorganic fertilizer was greater than the Pb and Cd content of soil on land applied with mulch, where on land applied with mulch the level of Pb contamination was in the very slightly contaminated category, while Cd was in the quite polluted category, and inorganic fertilizer land is heavily polluted. On land where mulch was applied, the Pb and Cd content of fiber and kernel was smaller than the Pb and Cd content of fiber and kernel on land where inorganic fertilizer was applied.

Phenological, Pomological, Biochemical and Physical Characteristics of Siirt Pistachio Variety (Pistacia vera L.) in Five Different Ecologies of Southeast Anatolia-Türkiye

ABSTRACT This study was conducted on Siirt Pistachio variety (Pistacia vera L.) grown in five different locations (Kahramanmaraş, Pazarcık, Gaziantep, Ceylanpınar and Siirt) for two years (2017 and 2018). Phenological (bud burst, beginning of flowering, full-bloom, and beginning of leafing end of flowering), pomological (fruit size, fruit weight, and color parameters), physical (split, unsplit fruit ratios, empty and full fruit ratio) and biochemical (total phenolics, flavonoids, antioxidant activity, and fatty acids) analyses were conducted. Total protein contents varied between 18.55% (Ceylanpınar) and 19.45% (Gaziantep); fatty acid contents between 52.80% (Siirt) and 54.25% (Gaziantep); saturated fatty acid ratios between 10.44% (Gaziantep) and 11.58% (Pazarcık); unsaturated fatty acid ratios between 88.42% (Pazarcık) and 89.56% (Gaziantep); saturated fatty acid/unsaturated fatty acid ratios between 7.64% (Pazarcık) and 8.58% (Gaziantep); total phenolics between 18.91 (Ceylanpınar) and 23.04 mg GAE/g; total flavonoids between 7.34 (Ceylanpınar) and 10.23 mg QE/g; antioxidant activity values between between 1.65 (Siirt) and 3.25 IC50 µg/ml (Kahramanmaraş). Principal component analysis revealed that four components had eigenvalues greater than 1. The first two components explained 64.6% of total variation. Oleic (−0.98) and linoleic (0.91) acids were the most effective parameters on the first component and kernel weight, a*, protein, arachidic, gonolic acids, Mg, P and Zn were the most effective parameters on the second component. Present findings can guide new studies to be done with this species.

A novel oxidative microwave torrefaction approach for producing empty fruit bunch-starch binder briquettes as a potential biomass-based energy

This study introduced a novel microwave torrefaction (MWT) strategy combining optimal briquetting conditions and oxidative MWT (OMWT) to create briquettes using empty fruit bunch (EFB)-starch binder for enhanced physical and fuel properties. An analysis was conducted to evaluate the impacts of compaction pressure (20–80 MPa), EFB-to-starch binder mixing ratios (90:10, 80:20, and 70:30 by wt%), and drying duration (50–150 min) on the final moisture content, unit density, and physical properties of the EFB-starch binder briquettes. This study also investigated the influences of heating duration (5–15 min), microwave (MW) power levels (200–400 W), and oxygen (O2) concentration (0–6 vol%) on the physical and fuel properties of oxidative MW-torrefied EFB-starch binder briquettes. The optimal briquetting parameters were determined using a compaction pressure of 80 MPa, mixing ratio of 80:20 (wt%), and drying duration of 120 min. Meanwhile, the optimal conditions for the OMWT process to produce satisfactory physical appearance and competitive compressive strength with higher heating value were a heating duration of 10 min, MW power level of 300 W, and O2 concentration of 6 vol%. Consequently, this process demonstrated an enhanced MWT method using minimal charcoal-activated carbon (C-AC) in an oxidative environment.

Utilization of Potassium Carbonate-Ethylene Glycol as Deep Eutectic Solvent to Delignification Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch for Furfural and Ethanol Production

Pretreatment using Deep Eutectic Solvent (DES) was done to reduce the lignin content in oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB). DES solution was prepared by combining Potassium Carbonate (K2CO3) as hydrogen bond acceptors (HBA) and Ethylene Glycol (EG) as hydrogen bond donors (HBD). This study aimed to obtain optimum conditions in the pretreatment process and determine the levels of lignin, cellulose, hemicellulose, and glucose in OPEFB. The pretreatment stage was performed at different temperature parameters, 100, 120, and 150°C, for 60 minutes to produce optimum conditions. Biomass pretreated with DES was hydrolyzed by cellulase complex to obtain glycose and xylose. The results showed that the pretreatment optimum condition value achieved with DES K2CO3:EG (1:10) at 150°C for 60 minutes was able to degrade lignin by 46,06%, hemicellulose by 4,08%, increase cellulose by 60,21%. The glucose and xylose content reached 58.48 g/l and 26.60 g/l, respectively. This sugar has potential for ethanol production from glucose and furfural production from xylose.

Assessing the efficacy of utilizing biochar derived from oil palm biomass as a planting medium for promoting the growth and development of oil palm seedlings

The recent adoption of biochar in Malaysia's oil palm industry offers numerous benefits, including soil enhancement, resource efficiency improvement, pollution remediation, and greenhouse gas mitigation. With approximately 66.15% of agricultural land dedicated to oil palm cultivation, a substantial amount of biomass, mainly from empty fruit bunch (EFB) and mesocarp fibre (MF), is generated. This study focused on carbonizing MF and EFB at temperatures ranging from 580 to 695 °C to produce biochar. The assessment of biochar's effectiveness as a planting medium in nurseries revealed significantly accelerated growth rates in seedlings cultivated in a composite of biochar and soil. At 8 months-after-treatment (MAT), the BMF-75 treatment showed remarkable growth enhancements, with the highest increase in height (64.9%), number of leaflets (60.5%), and girth size (55.3%) compared to the initial values at 3 MAT, indicating its effectiveness in promoting growth in oil palm seedlings. Additionally, compared to the control group, the biochar-mixed media resulted in favourable outcomes regarding the assimilation of both macro- and micro-nutrients. For instance, nitrogen uptake increased by 2.7% with BMF-50, magnesium by 25.2%, phosphorus by 24.1% with BEFB-75, calcium by 36.8% with BMF-75, chlorine by 10.5% with BMF-50, iron by 25.5% with BEFB-25, copper by 20.1% with BMF-25, and zinc by 6.3% with BMF-25. Additionally, biochar-treated soil exhibited higher organic carbon content, improved cation exchange capacity (CEC), enhanced nitrogen retention with greater biochar proportions, and likely improved soil fertility due to biochar's porous structure. Further potential research can be explored to investigate its long-term effects on oil palm plantation.

Production of lignin monomeric alcohols and lipids from oil palm empty fruit bunch by a combination of alkaline nitrobenzene depolymerization and Lipomyces starkeyi bioconversion

The efficient valorization of lignocellulosic biomass into valuable chemicals represents a cornerstone for advancing sustainable bioeconomy practices. This study focuses on the innovative conversion of oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) into lignin monomeric alcohols and lipids through a novel two-step process combining alkaline nitrobenzene depolymerization and bioconversion by Lipomyces starkeyi. Initially, OPEFB undergoes alkaline nitrobenzene depolymerization to break down complex lignin structures into monomeric aldehydes. The resulting derivates serve as substrates for the bioconversion by L. starkeyi, which is competent at metabolizing lignin-derived compounds into higher-value lignin monomeric alcohols (syringyl, vanillyl, and 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol) and lipids, simultaneously. The strategy delineates the optimization of depolymerization conditions, sodium hydroxide concentration, nitrobenzene effect, and reaction time to maximize the yield of depolymerized lignin suitable for bioconversion. Subsequently, the bioconversion process toward cell growth, lipid production, and fatty acid profiles in various fermentations by L. starkeyi was explored. The highest syringaldehyde and vanillin obtained reached up to 4.81 mM and 0.64 mM, respectively. Then, it successfully produced 3.57 mM and 0.40 mM of syringyl alcohol and vanillyl alcohol, respectively, with 5.86 g L−1 of the lipid titer. The study demonstrates the potential of this integrated approach to convert OPEFB into valuable lignin-derived biochemicals and lipids, thereby contributing to the development of alternative strategies for biomass utilization efficiently.

Removal of Methylene Blue from Aqueous Solutions Using Date Palm By‐Products from Algerian Sahara: Cultivar Variations Effect

AbstractThis study aims to compare the methylene blue (MB) removal capacity from aqueous solutions of seven natural Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) By‐products (DPBPS). These include: Leaflets (DPLL), Rachis of leaf (DPRL), Fruit Bunch Stalk (DPFBS), Empty Fruit Bunch (DPEFB), Leaf Base (DPLB), fibrillium (DPF) and Spathe Sheath (DPSS), obtained from three different date palm cultivars: Degla, Ghers and Takermost from Ouargla Oasis in the Algerian Sahara, and to investigate the influence of the palm date nature part and cultivar on MB adsorption. Batch adsorption experiments were conducted at different concentrations; 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, and 105 mg/L of MB with 2.5 g of DPBP of each cultivar. The DPBPS of all cultivars exhibits remarkable adsorption efficiencies for MB removal. The highest maximal experimental adsorption capacities were observed for Degla DPLB (4.192 mg/g), Ghers DPF (4.191 mg/g) and Takermost DPF (4.193 mg/g) with(99.81 %), (99.79 %), and (99.82 %) adsorption rates in their cultivar respectively. Conversely, the lowest maximal experimental adsorption capacities were found for Degla DPLL 4.048 mg/g, Ghers DPEFB (4.12 mg/g) and Takermost DPSS (4.089 mg/g) with 96.40 %, 98.09 %, and at 97.67 % adsorption rates in each cultivar respectively. The equilibrium adsorption data were analyzed using Langmuir and Freundlich models. The results indicated a good fit with the Freundlich model. The studied DPBPS represent natural, low‐cost, and locally available adsorbents that effectively remove MB from wastewater.

Pyrolysis of oil palm trunk biomass using a fixed bed reactor to produce raw material for bio-carbon black

The abundance of palm oil plantation waste in Indonesia can be utilized as a raw material for making carbon black, which currently relies on fossil fuel-based raw materials. Out of the five types of palm oil biomass waste, including empty fruit bunches (EFB), palm kernel shells (PKS), palm mesocarp fibers (PMF), oil palm fronds (OPF), and oil palm trunks (OPT), one will be chosen as the raw material for carbon black production. Palm oil biomass waste typically has a relatively high ash content. To reduce the ash content, the biomass must first undergo pyrolysis to transform it into pyrolysis oil. The higher the carbon content and the lower the oxygen content, the more the pyrolysis oil meets the criteria for replacing crude oil. Among the criteria mentioned, the lowest ash content is found in palm kernel shells (1.4%). The highest carbon content is in palm trunks (55.8%), while the lowest oxygen content is also in palm kernel shells (34.5%). Palm kernel shells are the best palm oil biomass that can be used as a raw material for carbon black. However, because palm kernel shells are commonly used as boiler fuel, the second choice is palm trunks due to their high carbon content. Pyrolysis experiments were conducted using palm trunk biomass to produce bio-oil, which would be further processed into carbon black. The palm trunks were divided into three parts: outer trunk, middle trunk, and core trunk. The biomass size was also varied, with sizes of 20 mesh and 40 mesh. The pyrolysis process used a fixed bed reactor with a heating rate of 3°C/minute, reaching a pyrolysis temperature of 600°C, and maintaining that temperature for 1.5 hours. The highest yield of bio-oil obtained was from the outer trunk with a biomass size of 40 mesh (36.8%). Similarly, for a size of 20 mesh, the highest yield was also from the outer trunk (35.7%).

Analysis of current state, gaps, and opportunities for technologies in the Malaysian oil palm estates and palm oil mills towards net-zero emissions

Malaysia is the second largest producer and exporter of palm oil. Though several works have explored achieving emissions reduction in the palm oil sector, there existing gaps in analysing pathways for achieving net-zero emissions. Moreover, there are limited studies that evaluate the potential of palm oil biomass utilisation pathways based on emissions reduction capabilities, the cost of emissions reduction, and the technology readiness for implementation. Therefore, this study analysed decarbonisation pathways for the upstream and midstream segments of the palm oil sector in Malaysia, encompassing oil palm plantations and palm oil mills. Various sources of greenhouse gas emissions in oil palm plantations and palm oil mills were identified and estimates of emissions were determined as theoretical emissions. The current emissions were established based on the current best practice in the plantation and mill. Several biomass conversion technologies for the recovery of palm-based by-products and conversion into value-added products to decarbonise the palm oil sector and evaluated strategies to attain net-zero status are considered. In this work, the analysis considered both the existing technologies that are adopted by plantations and mills as well as the emerging technologies that have scope for implementation. With the proposed approach, the current emissions level for crude palm oil (CPO) production in Malaysia is estimated as 1121.49 kg CO2-eq/t CPO. In current industry practice, empty fruit bunch (EFB) is underutilised as mills are typically located at rural areas with lack of suitable transportation. Besides, the lack of accessibility to the grid also limits the potential of converting EFB into electricity as supply for national grid. This work examined various pathways for EFB utilisation under different scenarios evaluating their contribution potential towards net-zero target in an energy self-sustained CPO production. As shown in the results, converting EFB to briquettes and pellets are able to achieve the net-zero objective. Furthermore, EFB-biochar and EFB-syngas pathways also exhibit the potential to accomplish the net-zero target. Note that this work also assessed the technologies’ readiness levels, identified challenges in implementation, and proposed several recommendations.

Enhancing biogas production from empty fruit bunch through acetic acid pretreatment: process optimization and synergistic effects

Enhancing biogas production from empty fruit bunch through acetic acid pretreatment: process optimization and synergistic effects