Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch Research Articles

Tuning Rigid Polyurethane Foam with Eco-friendly Cellulose Nanocrystals from Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunches as Energy-Efficient Material Composites for Buildings

The development of novel materials based on renewable materials with beneficial properties that assist with energy efficiency and conservation has been encouraged by increasing consciousness of environmental issues. This research intends to use sustainable cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) obtained from oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFB) as reinforcement to enhance the properties of rigid polyurethane foam (RPUF). RPUF reinforcement with varied CNC concentrations (0.25–1 wt%) was examined by foaming behavior, surface morphology, mechanical properties, thermal insulation properties, dimensional stability, efficiency energy study, and CO2 reduction through their thermal conductivity values. The results achieved an optimal improvement of mechanical properties of the RPUF composite by around 23.53% compared to RPUF control, at the addition of 0.5 wt% of CNC concentration while maintaining the density of 37–39 kg/m3. Further, incorporating CNC improved thermal insulating performance by 9.95%, as reflected by decreased thermal conductivity from 0.0292 W/mK to 0.0269 W/mK and decreased cell size by 28.12%. Finally, based on the energy and cost efficiency studies, RPUF-CNC composites offer up to 0.78 kWh/m2 and 0.031 kWh/m2 compared to conventional wall materials made of concrete and wood, respectively. Furthermore, it contributed to reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 110 and 7.2 kg CO2/year compared to concrete and wood, respectively. This work demonstrates the promising use of eco-friendly building insulation materials to mitigate the energy and environmental crisis.

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

THE EFFECTS OF NaClO2 AND H2O2 AS BLEACHING AGENTS IN THE SYNTHESIS OF CELLULOSE ACETATE FROM OIL PALM EMPTY FRUIT BUNCH

Indonesia is one of the largest palm oil-producing countries in the world. The results of palm oil processing produce a lot of waste, such as oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFB). The utilization of OPEFB in Indonesia is minimal, so it needs further development. OPEFB has a very high α-cellulose content, so that it can be used as raw material for manufacturing cellulose acetate. Making cellulose acetate from OPEFB consists of three main steps: delignification, bleaching, and acetylation. This study aims to compare the effects of the concentration of NaClO2 or H2O2 in the bleaching process on the physical properties of cellulose acetate from OPEFB. In the delignification process, 100 mesh-sized OPEFB powder is reacted with 5% sodium hydroxide (NaOH) at 100oC for 2 hours. The residue from deliglinfication was washed using distilled water until pH 7, filtered using filter paper, and dried using an oven at 50oC. The next step is the bleaching process using NaClO2 or H2O2 with concentration variations (1%, 2%, 3%, 4% and 5%). The bleaching process was carried out at 90oC for 1.5 hours. After filtration, the bleached residue was washed using distilled water until pH 7, filtered using filter paper, and dried using an oven at 50oC. After the bleaching process, α-cellulose powder was produced. The next step is acetylation, containing three main steps. The first step is the reaction between α-cellulose powder with acetic acid (CH3COOH) and sulfuric acid (H2SO4) at 40oC for 1.5 hours to perform activation. The second step is the addition of anhydrous cellulose in a ratio of 1:10 and mixed at 40oC for 1.5 hours. The third step is the addition of distilled water, acetic acid, and sodium acetate (CH3COONa) at 40oC for 5 minutes. Then, followed by filtration, the residue was washed using distilled water and methanol until pH 7 and dried at 50oC. The best result is using NaClO2 as a bleaching agent with a concentration of 2%, resulting in cellulose acetate yielding 98.85%, density of 1.954 g/mL, and L value of 91.897 for colorimetric test results. The density and L-value were close to commercial cellulose acetate (Sigma Aldrich). From the results of FTIR analysis, it can be concluded that the acetylation of α-cellulose into cellulose acetate has been successful, as evidenced by the formation of carbonyl groups (C=O).

A feasibility study of oil palm empty fruit bunch pulp as a substitution for radiata pine pulp for autoclave fibre cement composite production

The main objective of this study was to investigate the feasibility of using unbleached pulp from oil palm empty fruit bunches, produced via the Ethanolamine pulping process, to replace Radiata Pine pulp in autoclave fibre cement composite (AFCC) manufacturing. The Ethanolamine pulping process was chosen for its silica retention capability on empty fruit bunch surfaces. The research involves three key phases: an initial characterization of RPP and EFBP properties, including kappa numbers and pulp aspect ratios; subsequent AFCC production with varying RPP content levels (0%–13%) and different cement-to-silica (C/S) ratios (0.2–1.0); and the introduction of EFBP as a partial or complete substitute for RPP at a fixed C/S ratio. Results reveal RPP excels in fibre quality attributes like length, coarseness, fineness, width, and wet/dry zero span, while EFBP offers advantages in fibre count and macro fibrillation index. X-ray diffraction confirms silica presence on EFBP. The highest modulus of rupture (MOR), at 15.5 MPa, is achieved with 9% RPP and a C/S ratio of 1.0. Subsequent analysis, with 1% EFBP interval substitutions to total 13% pulp content, yields the highest MOR values under dry (16.7 MPa) and wet (9.9 MPa) conditions using recipes with 6% RPP and 3% EFBP. XRD confirms the presence of silica on EFBP, forming a crystalline flake layer post-autoclaving. Thus, EFBP proves suitable as a partial AFCC substitute.

CELLULASE PRODUCTION BY TRICHODERMA REESEI AND ITS APPLICATION IN HYDROLYZING OIL PALM EMPTY FRUIT BUNCHES

This study aimed to optimize cellulase production from Trichoderma reesei and apply it for the hydrolysis of oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFB). The effects of substrate, pH, nutrient, incubation period, and temperature on cellulase production were investigated using the solid-state fermentation method. OPEFB hydrolysis involved varying enzyme loadings (5, 10, 15, and 20 U/g substrate). The results indicated that the highest CMCase activity (1.02±0.008 U/mL) was achieved under optimal conditions, which included using rice bran as the substrate at 30 °C, pH 6.5, without nutrient addition, and an incubation period of 6 days. In OPEFB hydrolysis, the highest concentration of reducing sugars, 2.395 mg/mL, was observed with a 10 U/g enzyme loading after 48 hours of hydrolysis. FTIR results revealed that the characteristic absorption band at 1205 cm-1, representing the C1-O-C4 glycosidic bond of cellulose, was not observed in the sample hydrolyzed at the 10 U/g enzyme loading. This suggests the capability of the enzyme to hydrolyze OPEFB.

The improvement of available phosphorous of reclaimed-mining soils with coal fly ash and empty fruit bunches of oil palm treatments

Abstract Reclaimed-mining soil (RMS) were categorized as having an acidic pH, low organic carbon (C), low available phosphorous (P), and high contents of aluminium (Al) and iron (Fe); therefore, soil ameliorants were essentially added to this soil for improving soil fertility. The purpose of the research was to measure the impact of combining empty fruit bunches of oil palm (EFBOP) and coal fly ash (CFA) on the available P of RMS. Three rates of CFA application: 0, 75, and 150 Mg ha−1 and three rates of EFBOP application: 0, 25, and 50 Mg ha−1 were organized using a completely randomized design. A 1000 g of soil was placed to an experimental pot, and then CFA and EFBOP according to the treatment were added to the pot. The mixture of soils, CFA, and EFBOP were homogenized, and then incubated at 70% water holding capacity for 45 days. Available P, total P, Al-P, Fe-P, soil pH, and exchangeable Al were quantifies following the completion of incubation period. The findings of this research indicated that available P rose from 3 mg kg−1 of control (soil without treatment) to 5-41 mg kg−1 of soils with different amounts of CFA and EFBOP addition. The application of CFA and EFBOP also resulted in increases in soil pH from 4.33 in the control to pH 4.48-6.23. Additionally, the levels of Al-P, Fe-P, and exchangeable aluminum decreased with the application of CFA and EFBOP. The findings of this study highlight the potency utilizing industrial and agricultural wastes as soil ameliorants for improving available P to support plant growth on the reclaimed-mining soils.

DOSIS BIOCHAR DIPERKAYA SILIKA DAN ARANG AKTIF DALAM PERBAIKAN KAPASITAS MEMEGANG AIR, C-ORGANIK DAN KAPASITAS TUKAR KATION PADA INCEPTISOL

Inceptisol is a widespread soil with a total of 37% of the land area in Indonesia. On the island of Java, Inceptisol has an intensive management intensity, one of which is in Kertasari District, Bandung Regency, West Java, which has a high potential for soil damage due to a decrease in the soil's ability to hold water. Biochar enriched with silica and activated charcoal Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunches (OPEFB) is a type of organic soil amendment that can improve the ability of Inceptisol to hold water and support nutrient needs through organic C indicators and cation exchange capacity. The research was carried out by taking soil samples and then incubating them according to the treatment for 14 days. The experimental design used in the study was a non-factorial, Completely Randomized Design (CRD) method with 12 levels consisting of 3 L/ha of silica-enriched rice husk biochar and OPEFB's activated charcoal, with each in the range of 0-6.25 tons/ha. Measurement results of water holding capacity parameters, C-organic, and cation exchange capacity were analyzed statistically, and significant differences in responses were obtained from the treatments. The optimum dose for Inceptisol in Kertasari uses silica-enriched biochar to increase water holding capacity, organic C, and cation exchange capacity, respectively, at 4.92 tons/ha, 5.73 tons/ha, and 2.51 tons/ha. Otherwhile, OPEFB's activated charcoal was 1.7 tons/ha, 0.125 tons/ha, and 1.5 tons/ha, respectively.

Biochar and syngas from wet torrefaction of oil palm empty fruit bunches and palm oil mill effluent: A renewable energy approach

Abstract Palm oil mill effluent (POME) and oil palm empty fruit bunches (EFB) constitute the highest waste generated in the mill. This study investigates thermochemical approaches, specifically wet torrefaction and gasification, aiming to transform these wastes into higher-value products such as biochar. Wet torrefaction was initially applied to EFB and POME at 200 °C, with a heating rate of 5 °C/min for 30-min residence time under nitrogen-inert conditions, resulting in a solid yield of 82%. This process led to a notable increase in the heating value of raw EFB by 30.6%, from 17.3 to 22.6 MJ/kg. Subsequently, the product underwent gasification at various temperatures ranging from 600 to 800 °C, with a constant heating rate of 10 °C/min, gas flow rate of 20 ml/min, and a retention time of 30 min. The gasification reaction improved the solid yield and resulted in the generation of liquid products and syngas. The results indicated that 45-59% of biochar, 12-17% of bio-oil, and 30-39% of syngas were produced. The syngas composition, determined using gas chromatography, revealed the presence of CO2, H2, CH4, and CO. The solid product, characterised by a higher heating value, is a viable alternative for solid fuel. The findings suggested that both wet torrefaction and the gasification process have the potential to address the abundance of palm mill waste issues and offer an alternative approach for utilising and generating energy within the mill.

Synthesis and Characterization of Silica-Biochar Composite as Rhodamine B Dye Adsorbent

Composites are synthesized by combining different materials, resulting in properties suitable for use as adsorbents due to the combination of pores and functional groups within the constituent materials. This study developed a silica-biochar composite to serve as an adsorbent for rhodamine B dye, utilizing silica derived from red mud and biochar obtained from oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFB). This research focused on analyzing the characteristics and effectiveness of the composite as an adsorbent by varying its composition. Silica from red mud exhibited a purity of 80.05% and possessed silanol (Si-OH) and siloxane (Si-O-Si) functional groups on its surface, whereas biochar from OPEFB had a carbon content of 95.91% and included functional groups such as -OH, C=O, C=C, C-H, and C-O. The combination of silica and biochar yielded a composite surface consisting of -OH, C=O, C=C, C-O, C-H, and Si-O-Si functional groups. The silica-biochar composite demonstrated a greater surface area than its individual components, with silica at 69.824 m²/g and biochar at 95.452 m²/g. The composite with a 1:2 (% w/w) ratio exhibited the largest surface area at 102.371 m²/g, achieving a maximum adsorption capacity of 1.550 mg/g and an efficiency of 88.463%. The adsorption process encompasses physical interactions via pore diffusion and chemical interactions through functional groups.

Utilization of Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch (EFB) Waste as a Mixing Material for In-terlocking Brick Production

The choice of building materials has a considerable influence on the reliability of a building. Conventional bricks, despite their frequent use, pose a challenge due to their weight, as they affect the load-bearing capacity of the building, unlike interlocking bricks, which have holes at the top and bottom for reinforcement, potentially reducing the effects of earthquakes. In this study, interlocking bricks made from a mixture of empty oil palm fruit stalks and sand with different sand replacements (0%, 2.5%, 5%, 7.5%, 10%, and 12.5%) are investigated. The research results consistently show that the average density of EFB fiber composite bricks with a density of 1.48 grams/cm³ is lower than that of standard composite bricks. Although the compressive strength of these bricks is initially lower than that of standard bricks, it increases with the substitution of part of the sand with EFB fibers, although not significantly, with the highest compressive strength observed at a substitution rate of 12.5%, reaching 5.201 MPa. Water absorption rates ranged from 13.97% to 21.99%, which increases compared to standard bricks but still meets the requirements. With ongoing research and innovation, EFB-based interlocking bricks have the potential to address environmental challenges and support sustainable and environmentally friendly building practices.

Effect of Hydrochloric Acid Hydrolysis under Sonication and Hydrothermal Process to Produce Cellulose Nanocrystals from Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch (OPEFB).

This paper presents an approach for hydrolyzing cellulose nanocrystals from oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) presented through hydrochloric acid hydrolysis under sonication-hydrothermal conditions. Differences in concentration, reaction time, and acid-to-cellulose ratio affect toward the yield, crystallinity, microstructure, and thermal stability were obtained. The highest yield of cellulose nanocrystals up to 74.82%, crystallinity up to 78.59%, and a maximum degradation temperature (Tmax) of 339.82 °C were achieved through hydrolysis using 3 M HCl at 110 °C during 1 h. X-ray diffraction analysis indicated a higher diffraction peak pattern at 2θ = 22.6° and a low diffraction peak pattern at 2θ = 18°. All cellulose nanocrystals showed a crystalline size of under 1 nm, and it was indicated that the sonication-hydrothermal process could reduce the crystalline size of cellulose. Infrared spectroscopy analysis showed that a deletion of lignin and hemicellulose was demonstrated in the spectrum. Cellulose nanocrystal morphology showed a more compact structure and well-ordered surface arrangement than cellulose. Cellulose nanocrystals also had good thermal stability, as a high maximum degradation temperature was indicated, where CNC-D1 began degrading at temperatures (T0) of 307.09 °C and decomposed (Tmax) at 340.56 °C.

Dehydration of pentose to furfural catalyzed by formic acid – Kinetics and application to real biomass hydrolysates

This paper investigates the kinetics of xylose and real biomass hydrolysate conversion into furfural catalyzed by formic acid through batch experiments. The kinetic experiments were conducted across temperatures ranging from 140 °C to 200 °C using various concentrations of formic acid solution (5–20 wt%) and xylose concentrations varying from 0.062 mol/L to 0.2 mol/L. Three common reaction mechanisms were examined, and their results were compared with previous studies. Among these mechanisms, the model 3 which incorporated the formation of an intermediate followed by its cross-polymerization with furfural, exhibited the most favorable performance, with coefficient of determination values surpassing 95 %. Furthermore, the study demonstrated the reliability of kinetic modeling for raw biomass hydrolysate, with minimal deviation between experimental and predicted values. Optimal conditions resulted in the highest furfural yield of 58 % with a xylose concentration of 0.062 mol/L. Similarly, under identical conditions, birchwood and oat spelts xylans yielded maximum furfural yields of 63 % and 51 %, respectively. Moreover, hydrolysates from oil palm empty fruit bunch and fir wood exhibited the best furfural yields of 62 % and 57 %, respectively, along with an equal 5-HMF yield of 32 %. The results indicated that the developed model exhibited a high level of accuracy in predicting maximum yields with a relative deviation of less than 10 %.

Generation and Characterization of Bio-Oil Obtained From The Slow Pyrolysis of Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunches at Various Temperatures

Abstract: In the last decade, biomass pyrolysis has received more attention in the renewable energy sector. This technology converts biomass to obtain valuable products: bio-oil, biochar, and gas. Bio-oil is a liquid product from pyrolysis that can be used to fuel boilers and furnaces, or further processed to produce fuel oil and chemical products. In this study, bio-oil was generated from slow pyrolysis of oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFB) at various temperatures. The objective of this research is to investigate the effect of temperature on the properties of products generated from the pyrolysis of OPEFB. Six different pyrolysis temperatures ranging from 300 to 700℃ were used to produce bio-oil. It was found that operating temperature affected the product yield and its properties significantly. The higher the operating temperature of slow pyrolysis, the amount of bio-oil produced was also increased with a decrease in biochar yield. The highest yield of bio-oil was found to be 55.53% at a pyrolysis temperature of 700℃ with a yield of biochar and syngas was 24.22% and 20.25%, respectively. The GC-MS analysis was used as a quantitative means to characterize the liquid pyrolysis product. The findings of GC-MS showed that bio-oil generated in this study was dominated by phenols and ketones. In conclusion, pyrolysis of OPEFB demonstrates significant potential for industrial applications to generate valuable products especially bio-oil, providing a renewable alternative to fossil fuels.Abstrak: Dalam satu dekade terakhir, pirolisis biomassa semakin mendapat perhatian di sektor energi terbarukan. Teknologi ini mengubah biomassa menjadi produk-produk yang bernilai seperti: bio-oil, biochar, dan gas. Bio-oil adalah produk cair dari pirolisis yang dapat digunakan sebagai bahan bakar boiler dan furnace, atau diproses lebih lanjut untuk menghasilkan bahan bakar minyak dan produk kimia. Dalam penelitian ini, bio-oil dihasilkan dari proses pirolisis lambat tandan kosong kelapa sawit (TKKS) pada berbagai kondisi suhu. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui pengaruh suhu terhadap karakteristik produk yang dihasilkan dari pirolisis TKKS. Berbagai variasi suhu pirolisis dari rentang 300 hingga 700℃ digunakan untuk menghasilkan bio-oil. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa suhu pirolisis mempengaruhi yield produk dan karakteristiknya secara signifikan. Semakin tinggi suhu operasi pirolisis, jumlah bio-oil yang dihasilkan juga semakin meningkat, namun diikuti dengan penurunan yield biochar. Yield tertinggi bio-oil yaitu sebesar 55,53% diperoleh pada suhu 700℃ diikuti dengan yield biochar dan syngas masing-masing sebesar 24,22% and 20,25%. Analisis GC-MS digunakan sebagai metode kuantitatif untuk mengkarakterisasi produk cair dari pirolisis. Hasil GC-MS menunjukkan bahwa komposisi bio-oil yang dihasilkan dalam penelitian ini didominasi oleh senyawa fenol dan keton. Penelitian ini menjanjikan potensi dari pirolisis TKKS untuk aplikasi industri guna menghasilkan produk bernilai tinggi berupa bio-oil sebagai penyedia sumber energi terbarukan pengganti bahan bakar fosil.

Efficient lignin extraction from oil palm empty fruit bunches using guanidine-based deep eutectic solvents under microwave assistance

The abundance of oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFB) in Malaysia necessitates effective waste management strategies. Deep eutectic solvents (DES), particularly chloride-based ones like guanidine hydrochloride (GHCl), offer green and economical pretreatment options for lignocellulosic biomass, enhancing lignin extraction. To the best of current knowledge, no prior investigations have focused on the properties of lignin extracted using this DES system. Therefore, this study investigates the efficient extraction of lignin from oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFB) utilizing guanidine-based deep eutectic solvents (GHDES) under microwave assistance. Guanidine hydrochloride (GHCl) is introduced as a hydrogen bond acceptor (HBA) in DES formation, particularly in the GHCl:lactic acid (LA) system. The study systematically investigates the influence of different pretreatment parameters (time and temperature) on the structure and properties of the extracted lignin. Remarkably, guanidine-based DES shows exceptional effectiveness in disrupting the OPEFB structure, resulting in highly efficient lignin extraction. Analyzes show that the DES-extracted lignin has comparable properties to other DES systems, with consistent structural and thermal properties observed at various reaction temperatures and times. Notably, the extracted lignin at 120 °C for 30 min exhibited high yield, minimal impurity content, significant phenolic content, and reduced weight loss. This study not only contributes to the sustainable use of lignin but also highlights the versatility of guanidine-based DES in the utilization of lignocellulosic biomass. The promising results position guanidine-based DES as a viable and innovative candidate for lignin extraction in various applications and promote progress in the utilization of renewable biomass resources.

Optimisation of microwave vacuum pyrolysis conversion of palm oil empty fruit bunches into biochar and bio-oil

The optimization of the production of Bio-oil and Biochar, from palm oil empty fruit bunches (POEFB) usually thrown as waste, was achieved using microwave vacuum pyrolysis, with expectations of it being a novel source of energy. Moreover, the demand for energy resources is perpetually increasing, due to the rapid increase in population and industrial developments. Surface response methodology via the central composite design was used to investigate the significance of microwave power (w), pyrolysis time (min) and absorbent / biomass ratio (g/g) on the yields in bio-oil and Biochar from POEFB. The optimal yield in bio-oil was 35.05 wt. %, obtained at 14.4 minutes, a ratio of 1: 24 and a power of 382 W and optimum yield in Biochar was 103.75 wt. %, obtained at 1.6 minutes, a ratio of 9:16 and power of 382 W. Thermogravimetric analysis showed the decomposition of hemicellulose at 300 °C, cellulose at 350 °C and lignin from 400 ° C. The greatest effect on the yield in bio-oil from POEFB, was time factor; meanwhile, for the yield in Biochar, the time and absorbent/biomass ratio had the greatest influence.

Efficient methane production from agro-industrial residues using anaerobic fungal-rich consortia.

Anaerobic digestion (AD) emerges as a pivotal technique in climate change mitigation, transforming organic materials into biogas, a renewable energy form. This process significantly impacts energy production and waste management, influencing greenhouse gas emissions. Traditional research has largely focused on anaerobic bacteria and methanogens for methane production. However, the potential of anaerobic lignocellulolytic fungi for degrading lignocellulosic biomass remains less explored. In this study, buffalo rumen inocula were enriched and acclimatized to improve lignocellulolytic hydrolysis activity. Two consortia were established: the anaerobic fungi consortium (AFC), selectively enriched for fungi, and the anaerobic lignocellulolytic microbial consortium (ALMC). The consortia were utilized to create five distinct microbial cocktails-AF0, AF20, AF50, AF80, and AF100. These cocktails were formulated based on varying of AFC and ALMC by weights (w/w). Methane production from each cocktail of lignocellulosic biomasses (cassava pulp and oil palm residues) was evaluated. The highest methane yields of CP, EFB, and MFB were obtained at 337, 215, and 54 mL/g VS, respectively. Cocktails containing a mix of anaerobic fungi, hydrolytic bacteria (Sphingobacterium sp.), syntrophic bacteria (Sphaerochaeta sp.), and hydrogenotrophic methanogens produced 2.1-2.6 times higher methane in cassava pulp and 1.1-1.2 times in oil palm empty fruit bunch compared to AF0. All cocktails effectively produced methane from oil palm empty fruit bunch due to its lipid content. However, methane production ceased after 3 days when oil palm mesocarp fiber was used, due to long-chain fatty acid accumulation. Anaerobic fungi consortia showed effective lignocellulosic and starchy biomass degradation without inhibition due to organic acid accumulation. These findings underscore the potential of tailored microbial cocktails for enhancing methane production from diverse lignocellulosic substrates.

Synergistic sequential oxidative extraction for nanofibrillated cellulose isolated from oil palm empty fruit bunch

Synergistic sequential oxidative extraction for nanofibrillated cellulose isolated from oil palm empty fruit bunch

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.

Design of an automatic electric torrefaction reactor for oil palm empty fruit bunch pellets

Abstract One of the technologies for utilizing waste into high-quality fuel is torrefaction. Torefaction of empty palm fruit bunches is a thermochemical process without the presence of oxygen by heating the biomass slowly and holding it for a certain time. Torrefaction degrades the hemicellulose content to optimize mass and energy yields. The purpose of this study was to design a temperature control system using a electrical heater on a rotary torrefaction reactor for Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch (OPEFB) pellets. The validation temperature sensor has shown a coefficient of determination (R2) 0.9999 using the model coefficient y = 1.0029x + 0.4017. The performance results of the electric reactor control system for torrefaction show a temperature control accuracy of 85.77% at various setting points. The response of the temperature control system within 10 minutes can reach a temperature of 213°C and in the 13th minute it reaches 301.6°C. The stability of the tool produces good performance. The electric power consumption for 6 kg OPEFB pellets was 2.98 kWh at a cost of USD 0.33. The water content in the torrefaction pellets is 1-2%. The results of the hydrophobicity test showed that the torrefactive samples at temperatures above 200 °C did not change their physical form after immersion in water for 24 hours. These results indicate that the electric torrefaction reactor automatic has succeeded in increasing the caloric ratio of the material, resistance to water such as charcoal, but still has the characteristics and properties of biomass.

Semiconductor Based on Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch Alkali Cellulose

Oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) is a readily available biomass resource in Indonesia. Its processing into alpha-cellulose and alkaline cellulose offers promising economic opportunities and sustainable sensor development. This study focuses on extracting alpha-cellulose from OPEFB using kraft hydrolysis method and converting it into alkaline cellulose using NaOH solution. The 15, 20, and 25% variation of NaOH percentage during pulping resulting in different pulp quality indicated by alpha-cellulose content. The resulting alkali cellulose exhibits semiconductor properties with an energy gap of 3.6 eV, demonstrating its potential for light sensor or photodiode applications. Additionally, the optical energy gap of alkali cellulose-polyvinyl alcohol composites is investigated.