Enhancement of Palm Kernel Shell Fuel Properties via Wet Torrefaction: Response Surface, Optimization, and Combustion Studies

Abstract

Wet torrefaction emerges as a potential biomass pretreatment process to enhance the fuel properties of biomass. The present research was aimed to determine the energy-efficient conditions for the wet torrefaction of palm kernel shell via response surface methodology. The inherent relationship between fuel properties and operating conditions such as temperature (180–220 °C), residence time (10–30 min), and the palm kernel shell (PKS)/water ratio (0.1:0.2) was investigated, and temperature was observed to be the most significant parameter. Higher heating value of PKS was increased from 18.9 to 23.4 MJ/kg after torrifying at 220 °C, 30 min, and a water-to-biomass ratio at 0.2. The outcome of thermal analysis confirmed that wet-torrefied PKS exhibited an improved combustion behavior. The highest value of the comprehensive performance index for torrefied PKS was 5.687 × 10–10 min–2 °C–3. Wet torrefaction improved the fuel properties of PKS as the torrefied biomass had a higher carbon content, lower oxygen content, and lower ash content than raw PKS.

Effect and Optimization of Process Conditions during Solvolysis and Torrefaction of Pine Sawdust Using the Desirability Function and Genetic Algorithm

“…Unlike other developed models, the highly significant HHV model (P < 0.0001) for the solvolysis process only contained the independent terms. This observation was in agreement with the result reported by Gan et al 53 for the pretreatment of palm kernel shells via solvolysis. Like the torrefaction process, the independent temperature term showed the most significance on the HHV of PSD during the solvolysis process.…”

Biomass/Biochar carbon materials for CO2 capture and sequestration by cyclic adsorption processes: A review and prospects for future directions

“…Indonesia and Malaysia are the largest palm oil exporters in the world [227], which in one case, there are more than 5.8 million hectares of lands under palm oil cultivation in Malaysia, that produced 19.5 and 2.5 million tons of crude palm oil and palm kernel cake, respectively, in 2018 [227,228]. These palm kernel shells (PKS) have an excellent capacity to be considered as a source of energy and also, adsorbent for gas storage and sequestration [229]. Recently, low-cost porous CO 2 adsorbent synthesis from palm kernel was studied by Nasri et al [75].…”

Influence of Torrefaction on Biomass Devolatilization

“…Based on the latest statistics, about 4.85 million tonnes of PKS were produced from the processing of fresh fruit bunches in palm oil mills in Malaysia in 2018. 43 The PKS is an attractive biomass source for bioenergy production. As a matter of fact, production of biofuels from lignocellulosic biowaste by thermochemical conversion helps to achieve the dual objectives of waste management and energy and chemical recovery.…”

“…In recent years, the abundance of palm oil waste has been increasing with the fast development of palm oil industries especially in Southeast Asia, that is, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand. Based on the latest statistics, about 4.85 million tonnes of PKS were produced from the processing of fresh fruit bunches in palm oil mills in Malaysia in 2018 . The PKS is an attractive biomass source for bioenergy production.…”