The National Biomass Strategy was envisioned to foster the efficient valorisation and management of Oil Palm Waste (OPW) in Malaysia. However, the proposed Circular Energy Economy is hampered by poor OPW fuel properties, inefficient conversion techniques, and process design. This study explored the valorisation of Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunches (OPEFB) Briquettes through fluidized bed gasification with the aim of exploiting the superior qualities of pelletized biomass and excellent reactor dynamics of fluidized beds. Gasification of OPEFB Briquettes was examined from 600–800 °C and equivalence ratio, ER is 0.20–0.25 under atmospheric pressure. The fuel properties and chemical exergy of OPEFB briquettes were characterized. The gasification of OPEFB briquettes produced high biochar yield and biosyngas with higher heating value from 1.15–3.05 MJ/m3 whereas the Cold Gas Efficiency (CGE) and Carbon Conversion Efficiency (CCE) ranged from 6.54–17.34 % and 43.37– 78.16 %, respectively. Bed agglomeration and defluidization typically encountered in pulverised OPEFB gasification were minimal during the gasification of OPEFB briquettes. In conclusion, the results demonstrated that OPEFB Briquettes gasification is a practical route for valorising OPW into renewable energy and sustainable fuels.

1. Fluidized Bed Gasification and Chemical Exergy
Analysis of pelletized Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunches
- Bemgba Bevan Nyakuma -
9th Regional Conference on Chemical Engineering (RCChE 2016)
Inspiring ASEAN Sustainability Through Chemical Engineering Innovation

2. 2
Arshad Ahmad, Anwar Johari, Tuan Amran Tuan
Abdullah, Olagoke Oladokun and Habib Alkali
Co-authors

3. • Introduction
• Experimental
• Results
• Conclusion
3
Contents

4. 4
Introduction

5. 5
• Malaysia  2nd Largest producer &
exporter of Palm Oil
• 5 Million hectares,
• 75 million tons of Fresh Fruit
Bunches (FFB),
• 400 palm oils mills.
• Crude Palm Oil (CPO) >>
• Feedstock/Raw material for
food, confectionary, biodiesel
• Palm Oil Industry  Foreign
exchange, National Pride
Introduction
www.palmoilhealth.org
http://bit.ly/2gaTMeA

6. 6
• CPO production generates
large quantities of waste >>
• 1 kg CPO >> 4 kg of Solid
Waste, 12.4 kg of CO2
• Classification of Oil Palm
Wastes;
• Liquid (POME),
• Solid Biomass Waste
• Solid Wastes >>
Oil Mill and Plantation
www.mpoc.org.my

7. 7
Solid Waste >> Empty Fruit Bunch (EFB), Palm Kernel Shell
(PKS),Mesocarp Fibre (MCF), Palm Fronds, Palm Kernel Cake, Trunks

8. 8
• 200 Million Metric tons of wastes generated
between year 2010 – 2015
• Current conversion technologies – open air burning,
incineration, land filling, boiler fuel
• Inefficient, outdated, hazardous, unsustainable and
expensive
• Increased GHGs, Loss of Biodiversity and
Environmental challenges; eutrophication, leaching
http://bit.ly/2fgR4Fc

9. 9
http://bit.ly/2fgR4Fchttp://bit.ly/2fI22Ep
http://bit.ly/2fgSBLshttp://bit.ly/2g8mL53

10. 10
• National Biomass Strategy 2020 est. in 2013
>> NBS-2020.
• 20 million tonnes of OPW by 2020 into higher-value
products and national income GNI by RM 30 billion
• NBS2020 >> meet its renewable energy target and
reduce GHG emissions
Introduction

11. 11
Pre-Treatment & Valorisation of
Oil Palm EFB  Largest stock with
low Value, High moisture, High
Alkali, & Low Bulk Density
Introduction
Thermochemical – Gasification
of OPWs into Bio-Syngas,
Biofuels, Biochar or Biocoal for
power generation
Fresh Oil Palm
Fruit Bunches
Pelletized Oil Palm Empty
Fruit Bunches (OPEFB)
Oil Palm Empty fruit
Bunches (OPEFB)

12. 12
Study Objective

13. 13
To examine the chemical fuel properties and exergy analysis of
pelletized OPEFB.
To explore the valorisation of pelletized OPEFB through fluidized
bed gasification for clean energy.
To exploit the solid fuel properties of pelletized fuel and reactor
dynamics of fluidized bed gasifiers for efficient OPEFB valorisation.

14. 14
Experimental

15. 15
Experimental
Acquisition of pelletized OPEFB
(Felda Semenchu Oil Palm Mill in Johor.
Pulverization and Characterization
(Ultimate, proximate and calorific Analysis)
Chemical Exergy Analysis
(Elemental analysis and heating values)
Fluidized Bed Gasification pellets
(Temp: 600 – 800 C; Equiv. Ratio: 0.20 – 0.25

16. 16
Experimental

17. 17
Results

18. 18
Results > Solid Fuel Properties of pelletized OPEFB

19. 19
Results > Solid Fuel Properties of pelletized OPEFB
• OPEFB Briquettes  proportions of chemical elements
for energy, fuels & power applications.
• Low nitrogen and sulphur >> fuel is environmentally
friendly with low NOx and SOx potential.
• High Heating Values  higher than the minimum
energy content (14 MJ/kg) for bioenergy applications.
• Exergy values ranged from 17.17 - 18.17 MJ/kg
• maximum amount of work obtainable per kg is below 20 MJ/kg

20. 20
Results > OPEFB Gasification: Syngas Yield

21. 21
Results > OPEFB Gasification: Syngas Yield
• Gasification of OPEFB Briquettes yielded;
• H2 (2.02-10.17 mol. %); CO (2.22-6.27 mol. %);
• CH4 (1.06-3.10 mol. %); CO2 (10.88-27.29 mol. %);
• C2H4 (1.00-2.34 mol. %); C2H6 (0.38-1.18 mol. %).
• Highest H2 yield was at 600 °C whereas Lowest was at 800
°C both at ER = 0.20.
• Due to the limitation of heat and mass transfer typically
observed for conversion of large particle diameters.

22. 22
Results > OPEFB Gasification: Performance
• HHV ranged from 1.15–3.05 MJ/m3; CGE was 6.54–17.34 % and CCE was
43.37–78.16 %,
• Large size fuel limited by heat, mass transfer and evolution of biosyngas
and fuel gases during gasification.

23. 23
Conclusion

24. 24
Conclusions
• Fluidized bed gasification of OPEFB Briquettes, fuel and chemical
exergy characterization were examined,
• Gasification yielded  biochar and biosyngas of HHV > 2.5
MJ/m3 (minimum HHV for energy production in Gas Engines),
• Low Cold Gas Efficiency (CGE) whereas Carbon Conversion
Efficiency (CCE) was high >> 75 %,
• No Bed agglomeration and defluidization during gasification,
• Gasification of pelletized OPEFB practical for renewable energy &
sustainable fuels for the future.

25. 25
The End
Terima kasih
(Thank you)

26. 26
Acknowledgement
The authors wish to acknowledge the
financial support from Universiti Teknologi
Malaysia through the Research University
Grants; Q.J130000.2509.07H12 and
Q.J130000.2509.13H95.