Effect of Torrefaction via Furnace on the Physical Properties and Thermal Behavior of Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch

Abstract

This study was aimed to determine the physical properties including physical appearance, mass yield, proximate besides calorific value and thermal behavior of torrefied oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) biochar as an alternative renewable energy sources. The influence of three major torrefaction parameters namely particle size, holding temperature and residence time on them were investigated. The thermal behavior of torrefied OPEFB biochar has been identified using TGA-DSC. The degradation is divided into three stages which are dehydration, devolatilizations and decomposition of char. During the dehydration, the moisture and water content was removed and during second stage, the volatile matter was removed along with the removal of hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin while on the third stage shows the decompositions of biochar to completely degrade.