Potential Application of Oil Palm Wastes Charcoal Briquettes for Coal Replacement

Abstract

This study is aimed at investigating the potentials of oil palm wastes as an alternative to fossil fuels (coal) for domestic heat generation via briquettes (solid fuels) production. In this study oil palm wastes such as empty fruit bunches (EFB), mesocarp fiber (MF) and palm kernel shell (PKS) were pyrolyzed at temperatures of 400°C for 120 min and a heating rate of 10°C min −1. The biochar and bio-oil obtained were blended in the ratio of 60:40 weight percentages and compressed at a constant pressure of 400 kg cm −2 for charcoal briquettes production. The combustion profiles, heat release of the charcoal briquettes and Malaysian sub-bituminous coal were analyzed and compared through thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Comparably, MF and PKS charcoal briquettes had higher HHV of 26.15 and 25.99 MJ kg −1 , individually than coal which has 24.21 MJ kg −1 , while EFB charcoal briquette showed the lowest value 23.93 MJ kg −1. Therefore, it can be said that all the charcoal briquettes showed a positive sign to replace coal. The maximum and minimum heat released of 0.059 and 0.048 W were obtained from the combustion of EFB and MF charcoal briquettes. It was established that in each ton of raw (dry basis) of EFB, MF, and PKS, there is 0.177, 0.212 and 0.228 tons of charcoal briquettes which correspond to 1.866, 2.055 and 2.414 MW of heat. Therefore, the findings in this study could contribute toward achieving the targeted 500 MW of green energy initiated in 2005 by the Malaysian government. Furthermore, the production of charcoal briquettes could be one of the proper methods to minimize the agricultural disposal problem in Malaysia.

Biomass Fuel Production through Fermentation of Lysinibacillus sp. LC 556247 in Various Ratios of Palm Oil Mill Effluent and Empty Fruit Bunch

“…The observed relationship is explainable as the CEV decreases with the decrease in carbon content. These findings validate previous research on the energy generated by biomass fuels in which a high calorific value was acquired with an increase in C and H values [49,55].…”

“…Asamoah et al (2016) reported that productive and highquality fuel pellets and briquettes depend on low MC, volatile matter, and ash content with high fixed carbon content [48]. High MC presence in biomass fuel will reduce the stability and density of the pellets and briquettes [49]. Low MC will produce high-quality fuel pellets and briquettes.…”

The Utilisation of Palm Oil and Oil Palm Residues and the Related Challenges as a Sustainable Alternative in Biofuel, Bioenergy, and Transportation Sector: A Review

“…However, the percentage of biochar and pyrolytic liquid oil contributed mainly to the percentage of lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose contents in the biomass feedstock. According to Safana et al [57] and Lee et al [97], the percentage of char yield is quite prominent in feedstock which contains a higher amount of lignin as compared to the cellulose and hemicellulose content, and it is vice-versa for a higher yield of pyrolytic liquid, which is proven by Sukiran et al [115]. Their experiment reported that OPEFB has the highest yield of pyrolytic oil (47 wt.%), and OPKS has the highest yield of char (55 wt.%) in comparison to other palm oil biomasses [115].…”

Exploring binder efficacy in the fabrication of charcoal briquettes from palmyra palm and oil palm shells: A comprehensive analysis

“…Charcoal briquettes, often overlooked, emerge as a significant renewable energy source (Safana et al 2018). Offering a sustainable alternative to natural forest-derived charcoal, these briquettes aid in conservation efforts and help reduce deforestation (Otieno and Otieno 2020).…”

“…Palmyra (Chumsang and Upan 2014) and oil palm shells (Safana et al 2018) are recognized as abundant agro-wastes in local communities such as Thailand, with its 1.6 billion square meters of oil palm agricultural area in 2021 (Yaseen et al 2023). However, there are limited sources detailing the exact agricultural areas of palmyra palm.…”