Palm Empty Fruit Bunch Biomass Research Articles

Efficient integrated production of bioethanol and lignin from oil palm empty fruit bunch biomass using chemical steam explosion method

Efficient integrated production of bioethanol and lignin from oil palm empty fruit bunch biomass using chemical steam explosion method

Biomass Mediated Synthesis of ZnO and ZnO/GO for the Decolorization of Methylene Blue under Visible Light Source

In this study, zinc oxide (ZnO) as well as ZnO/GO (zinc oxide/graphene oxide) were successfully synthesized. The Carica papaya leaf extract was used to synthesize ZnO and oil palm empty fruit bunch biomass to obtain graphene, which was further used to obtain graphene oxide. The samples were characterized through a variety of analytical methods such as scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and UV–Visible spectroscopy in order to understand their morphology, size, structural phase purity, functional groups and optical properties. Various peaks such as O-H, Zn-OH and Zn-O were found in the case of ZnO. Some additional peaks, such as C-C and C=C, were also been detected while analyzing the sample by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The results of the XRD and SEM studies demonstrated that the synthesized material shows the crystalline nature of the substance in the case of ZnO, and the crystallinity decreases for ZnO/GO. The average crystallite size was found to 80.0 nm for ZnO and 74.0 nm for ZnO/GO. Further, a red shift was shown in the case of ZnO/GO, which was indicated by the UV–Vis absorption spectrum. In the TEM analysis, the particles were shown to be nanosized. For instance, the highest number of particles was found in the range of 100 to 120 nm in the case of ZnO, while 80–100 nm sized particles were found for ZnO/GO. Using synthesized ZnO and ZnO/GO, the decolorization of methylene blue was found to be 64% and 91%, respectively.

Model-based process intensification of dilute acid pre-hydrolysis of oil palm empty fruit bunch biomass for pretreatment and furfural production

A novel process for simultaneous production of furfural and pretreatment of oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) by dilute acid pre-hydrolysis was developed based on non-isothermal kinetic modeling. Mass transfer analysis suggested that the internal diffusion could be neglected as diffusion time of sulfuric acid in EFB particles was significantly shorter than the pre-hydrolysis period, whereas the heating stage could not be neglected due to a significant part of xylan was solubilized at the stage. A strategy for increasing furfural yield was developed by intermittent discharging of steam, resulting in 71.4 % furfural yield. The pretreated solids showed good enzymatic digestibility. 136.3 g/L glucose corresponding to 81.6 % yield was obtained by high-solid loading hydrolysis. 95.4 g furfural and 212 g glucose could be obtained from 1 kg dry EFB. Therefore, non-isothermal effects on polysaccharide hydrolysis and pentose decomposition should be considered carefully for an efficient process design of EFB biorefining.

Simulation of Reaction Kinetics and Heat Transfer Effects on Product Yields from Fast Pyrolysis of Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch Biomass in Fluidized Bed Reactor

The present work aims to optimize the operating conditions for biofuel production from fast pyrolysis of oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) biomass in a fluidized bed reactor. The coupled model of global reaction kinetics and heat transfer was applied to investigate the effects of operating conditions (reaction temperature in the range of 748–798 K, vapor residence time in the range of 0.5–2 s, and particle size in the range of 150–500 μm) on the yields of products (liquid (bio-oil), gas, and char) and particle heat transfer of the OPEFB biomass fast pyrolysis. The simulation results of the present model validated the reported experimental data of the product yields of OPEFB biomass fast pyrolysis. The results showed that the maximum yield of high-quality liquid product was obtained at a vapor residence time of 1 s and a reaction temperature of 773 K. Moreover, the OPEFB particle size in the range of 300–350 μm gave the highest yield of liquid product and the good heat transfer of particles. The optimum operating conditions from the simulation of the coupled model can be utilized for the experimental work of fast pyrolysis for different kinds of biomass in a fluidized bed reactor.

Blue luminescence carbon quantum dots derived from oil palm empty fruit bunch biomass

Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) have attracted tremendous attention for their interesting properties such as excellent chemical and photo stability, good water dispersibility, biocompatibility and possessing outstanding photoluminescence (PL) properties. In this study, oil palm biomass is used as the carbon precursor to produce CQDs and exhibit high luminescent properties. However, a large amount of biomass produces by the oil palm industry is either burnt in the open air or disposed in waste ponds and contributes to global climate change via emissions of carbon dioxide and methane. Hence, synthesis the CQDs from oil palm biomass by hydrothermal treatment method has formed excellent properties in optical properties that could be comparable to semiconductor quantum dots. The results have shown the diameter size of CQDs in the range of 2-5 nm. While, the optical properties, UV-vis spectrum of CQDs have given a strong absorption at 282 nm and obtains in brown color under visible light and emitting blue luminescence under 365 nm of UV lamp. Furthermore, PL spectra of CQDs have shown excitation and emission wavelength at 360 nm and 450 nm, respectively. This is attribute to the excitation-wavelength dependent of PL properties. Hence, the spectra from FTIR showed the existence of hydroxyl and carboxyl groups on the CQDs would have originated from lignocellulosic materials, thus resulted in excellent water stability and solubility properties of CQDs. The presented study is the green approached reprocessed biomass from waste to materials with excellent optical properties that could utilize in various field of applications.

Biomass to methanol plant based on gasification of palm empty fruit bunch

Biomass from Empty Fruit Bunch (EFB) has the potential to be employed as raw material for renewable energy sources in Indonesia. EFB can be efficiently converted into valuable fuel products through gasification to produce syngas. Syngas is a suitable basis for added value products development. One of type biomass that has big potential to be utilized is palm EFB biomass. Research about methanol synthesis from various biomass has been done, though little research about methanol production based on EFB gasification. The purpose of this research is to simulate methanol plant model based on gasification of palm EFB. The method covers the step to perform a simulation of the model and methanol plant design. Electric power requirement has been investigated at 3 417 kW, and 67 % of its demand can be fulfilled by steam generation cycle and internal combustion engine (ICE) fuelled by off-gas, while the deficit fulfilled by diesel powered ICE. The flow rate of methanol produced is 85 % of EFB feed flowrate. Energy efficiency is 92 % once electricity energy added to liquid product energy content. The developed model reflects the initial step toward circular economy principals as well as the basis for analysis of the methanol production from EFB biomass gasification profitability.

Improved yield and higher heating value of biochar from oil palm biomass at low retention time under self-sustained carbonization

Oil palm biochar with high yield and higher heating value under low energy requirement is required for improved waste management and utilization in the palm oil industry. This paper presents, a self-sustained carbonization of oil palm empty fruit bunch biomass, without internal heating element, which produced high biochar yield and higher heating value. Three different particle sizes of pressed-shredded oil palm empty fruit bunch biomass, i.e. below 29 mm, 30–99 mm and 100–150 mm, at 8–10% moisture content were used. The carbonization temperature was monitored and used as an indicator to stop the carbonization prior to harvesting. The maximum carbonization temperature recorded was 600 °C. In our previous report, harvested at 300 °C under uncontrolled exhausted air flow rate and found that the higher heating values obtained were 23.0–25.0 MJ/kg. However the biochar yield was only 14–16 %. In order to increase the yield of biochar, the exhaust air flow rate has been fixed at 36 m3/hr by using an air suction blower to ensure uniform circulation and distribution of hot air from top to bottom before being discharged. The biochar was harvested when the temperature of the bed decreased to 500 °C. The particle size range from 100 to 150 mm produced the highest biochar yield of 26.0 ± 1.2% with higher heating value of 23.0–23.5 MJ/kg within 5–8 h retention time. The gaseous emissions were lower than permitted level set by the environmental authorities. The technology developed in this study should be used to improve the management and utilization of oil palm biomass towards a more sustainable palm oil industry.

Supply Chain Analysis, Delivered Cost, and Life Cycle Assessment of Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch Biomass for Green Chemical Production in Malaysia

Financial, environmental, and supply chain analyses of empty fruit bunch (EFB) biomass are needed for the development of a sustainable green chemicals industry in Malaysia. Herein, holistic analysis of the supply system and EFB life cycle cradle-to-gate are analyzed in an effort to make recommendations for the commercial-scale collection and delivery of EFB from crude palm oil (CPO) extraction facilities to biorefineries in Malaysia. Supply chain modeling tracked inputs and outputs for financial analysis. The openLCA software was used for life cycle assessment (LCA). Allocation scenarios were used to explore the impact of accounting methodologies on the competitiveness of EFB compared to other feedstocks. Sensitivity analysis on the effect of transportation distance, emission flows, and allocation methods on resulting environmental impacts were conducted. The No Burden, Economic, and Mass allocation scenarios resulted in 17, -2.3, and -265 kg CO2-eq. BD tonne-1 EFB global warming impacts (GW), respectively. Delivered cost for EFB was calculated to be approximately 45 US$ BD tonne-1. Environmental burdens were sensitive to allocation scenario, covered area, and land use change. Delivered cost was sensitive to transport distance, covered area, and yield. It was shown that there is sufficient Malaysia EFB available for between 9 and 28 biorefineries, depending upon the scale of production.

Production of Ligninolytic Enzymes by Newly Isolated Bacteria from Palm Oil Plantation Soils

Three aerobic lignin-degrading bacterial strains were isolated from palm oil plantation soils. The bacterial isolates were screened using a selective nutrient medium of minimum salt media (MSM), with kraft lignin as lignin substrate and methylene blue as the ligninolytic dye indicator. The newly isolated bacterial strains SHC1, SHC2, and SHC3 were found to have the potential to tolerate high concentrations of kraft lignin and produced all three main ligninolytic enzymes (lignin peroxidase, manganese peroxidase, and laccase); these strains may therefore be useful in the degradation of lignin in oil palm empty fruit bunch biomass. The production of ligninolytic enzymes was carried out by means of submerged fermentation for 7 days using 2 mm of oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) fiber as a substrate. These bacterial isolates were characterized using biochemical tests from Biolog and identified using 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis, which identified the strains SHC1, SHC2, and SHC3 as Bacillus sp., Ochrobactrum sp., and Leucobacter sp., respectively with 99% sequence similarity. Bacillus sp. SHC1 produced the highest manganese peroxidase (MnP) of 2313.4 U/L on the third day and the highest lignin peroxidase (LiP) of 209.30 U/L on the fifth day of fermentation. The optimum pH and temperature for the production of ligninolytic enzymes by Bacillus sp. SHC1 were pH 8 and 30 °C.

Experiment of CRMP on Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch Biomass Utilization

In this paper, we focus on the possibility for Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch (OPEFB) Biomass Utilization by experimenting with chemi-refiner mechanical pulping (CRMP). To understand the process of CRMP, a short description of five comparable experiments and effects of refiner plate dam on coarse pulp properties is given. Plate dams offer a chance to utilize different alternatives needed to defibrate OPEFB and develop fiber in a more efficient way. From the experimental results, we also assume the possibility of a refining mechanism of defibration by friction of fiber to fiber interaction occurring mainly at the primary stage high consistency refining; the second stage is for fiber properties development by fibrillation at medium consistency. The effect of the undammed refiner plates is cutting more than fibrillation at high consistency, and fibrillation more than cutting at mid-consistency; The effect of the dammed plates is more friction than cutting at high consistency and more fiber fracture at medium consistency.

Pyrolysis of oil palm empty fruit bunch biomass pellets using multimode microwave irradiation

Oil palm empty fruit bunch pellets were subjected to pyrolysis in a multimode microwave (MW) system (1kW and 2.45GHz frequency) with and without the MW absorber, activated carbon. The ratio of biomass to MW absorber not only affected the temperature profiles of the EFB but also pyrolysis products such as bio-oil, char, and gas. The highest bio-oil yield of about 21wt.% was obtained with 25% MW absorber. The bio-oil consisted of phenolic compounds of about 60–70 area% as detected by GC–MS and confirmed by FT-IR analysis. Ball lightning (plasma arc) occurred due to residual palm oil in the EFB biomass without using an MW absorber. The bio-char can be utilized as potential alternative fuel because of its heating value (25MJ/kg).

Enhanced Biogas Production from Palm Oil Mill Effluent Supplemented with Untreated Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch Biomass with a Change in the Microbial Community

The biogas and biomethane production in a 50 litre closed stirred tank anaerobic bioreactor treating palm oil mill effluent (POME) supplemented with oil palm biomass in the form of oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) under mesophilic condition was evaluated. With OPEFB supplementation, the biogas and biomethane generation increased by 63% and 52%, respectively. During this process, we found changes in the OPEFB morphology and microbial community through microbiota analysis using 16S rRNA gene clone library method, after OPEFB was added, suggesting that the increased biogas and biomethane production would be due to enhanced lignocellulosic biomass degradation.