Steam Gasification of EFB Pellet from Hydrotermal Treatment in Tubular Reactor to Produce H2 and CO Gas

• Main Author: Dinda Pratiwi, Mutia
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/38539
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) is one of the most plentiful waste from palm oil factory. EFB is feasible to be utilized that it has high calorific value. However, the utilization of EFB waste in Indonesia is still low. One of the technology that can convert biomass as energy is gasification. Gasification is a chemical process that converts carbonaceous materials like biomass into syntesis gas in high temperature condition with gasification agent (steam, air, or oxygen). Biomass contains ash which is structured with minerals such as K, Na, Ca, Si, and Mg. The presence of these minerals give catalytic effect on gasification reaction. In the other hand, high contain of minerals could lead to gasification problems such as slagging and fouling of the reactor and also lead to lower reactivity because of ash deposition in the biochar’s pores. Hydrothermal treatment process is a method that can decrease mineral content, especially sodium and potassium. EFB that is used in this study will go through hydrothermal treatment (HT) process to reduce its mineral content. Gasification is done by using a lab scale downdraft fixed bed gasifier with 50 grams of feed, in 650oC gasification temperature, the flowrate of N2 and steam temperature is kept constant. In this study, the effect of HT temperature and pelletizing pressure will be analyzed from the result of the gasification performance. The results show that hydrothermally treated EFB in lower HT temperature gives lower value of H2 yield. Gasification of hydrothermally treated EFB pellets in HT temperature of 150oC with pelletizing pressure of 50, 100, and 200 bar give H2 yield value consecutively 37,37; 16,83; and 35,47 mole/kg or biochar. Gasification of hydrothermally treated EFB pellets in HT temperature of 200oC with pelletizing pressure of 50, 100, and 200 bar give H2 yield value consecutively 12,69; 12,33; and 9,22 mole/kg or biochar.