1. Thermogravimetric Analysis of Char Waste from the
Gasification of Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch Briquettes.
- Bemgba Bevan Nyakuma -
ICPER 2014
- Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -
2. Co-authors
2
Mojtaba Mazangi, Anwar Johari, Arshad Ahmad,
Tuan Amran Tuan Abdullah
Institute of Hydrogen Economy, Faculty of
Chemical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi
Malaysia, Johor Bahru, Malaysia.
4. Introduction
4
• Oil palm waste valorisation has potential socioeconomic
& environmental benefits.
• Biomass gasification is a promising route for the
valorisation of oil palm waste.
• Increase conversion efficiencies & meet global standards
for energy efficiency & environmental sustainability.
• Pre-treatment pelletization and torrefaction can
improve efficiency and product yield.
5. Introduction
5
• Thermochemical & physical properties of Oil palm EFB
briquettes.
• Investigate the gasification of Oil palm EFB briquettes.
• Pre-lim simulations showed that product gas yield &
composition are higher than oil palm EFB fibres.
• Solid uniform nature improves energy density, energy
content, moisture, storage and handling.
6. 6
Biomass oil palm EFB gasification has problems;
• Agglomeration at high temperatures
• Tar formation blocks/fouls equipment
• Solid Char Waste production
7. Aim of the study
7
Analyse solid Char waste from Oil palm EFB briquettes
gasification.
Examine the thermal decomposition of char using
Thermogravimetry.
8. 8
Results & discussion
Temperature
(°C)
Char
(g)
Char/Feed
(%)
600 0.57 22.80
625 0.55 22.00
650 0.52 20.80
675 0.46 18.40
700 0.56 22.40
Effect of temperature on char produced.
• Char from EFB briquette gasification 600-700 °C.
• 18 to 22 % char is produced from gasification in
a fixed bed reactor.
• Char Decomposition high temperature effect
on Boudouard reaction & Water-gasification.
• Le Chatelier’s effect on endothermic nature of
the reactions is influenced by high temperature.
• Exothermic char oxidation reactions producing
the heat required for gasification.
9. 9
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100
-10
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
110
B
WeightLoss(%)
Temperature (°C)
(EFB Briq TGA) (Char TGA)
A
C
D
E
F
TGA curves for EFB briquette and Char.
Stage of
Decomposition
Temperature
(°C)
Weight Loss
(mg)
Weight Loss
(%)
A Drying/Ignition 28 - 250 0.82 16.11
B Devolatization 251 - 359 2.51 49.31
C Reduction 360 - 782 1.04 20.43
D EFB Char Degradation 783 - 998 0.66 13.17
E Char Degradation I 28-772 0.89 17.18
F Char Degradation II 772-998 1.69 32.63
10. 10
Sample
Peak
Designation
Temperature
range (°C)
Peak decomposition
temperature (°C)
EFB
Briquette
G 28-153 55
H 153-400 311
I 700-900 856
Char J 28-153 55
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100
-0.006
-0.004
-0.002
0.000
0.002
0.004
0.006
0.008
Derivativeweight(mg/s)
Temperature (°C)
(EFB Briq DTG) (Char DTG)
H
G
I
J
DTG curves for EFB briquette and Char.
11. 11
• EFB briquette decomposes in four stages; drying,
devolatization, partial combustion & char gasification.
• Char decomposition occurs in two stages; char
degradation I & II (E&F).
• TGA curve of Char is identical to part D of the EFB
briquette curve
Summary
12. 12
• Complete thermal decomposition of EFB briquette occurs
within the temperature range.
• Only ~ 50 % char decomposed during thermal analysis
high temp required for complete decomposition
• Peaks G (EFB briquette) J (char) are identical in shape &
symmetry, size difference diff. in moisture content.
Summary
13. 13
Conclusion
• Thermal decomposition of Char & Oil palm EFB briquette
using thermogravimetry (TGA).
• Three DTG peaks for EFB briquette and one peak for Char
observed during thermal analysis.
• Complete thermal decomposition of EFB briquette but
ONLY partial decomposition observed for char.
