VALORIZATION OF EMPTY OIL PALM FRUIT BUNCH USING TORREFACTION FOR BIOCHAR PRODUCTION: PROCESS OPTIMIZATION AND ECONOMIC ANALYSIS

• Main Author: Gonzaga Holy Prajitna, Aloysius
• Format: Theses
• Language: Indonesia
• Subjects: Teknik saniter dan perkotaan; teknik perlindungan lingkungan
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/78236
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Empty fruit bunches (EFB) are a byproduct generated from large-scale oil palm processing facilities, amounting to approximately 20-25% of the total oil palm harvest. Thermochemical conversion processes, such as torrefaction at temperatures of 200- 300°C, are a promising method to convert this commonly mismanaged waste into an intermediate product in the form of biochar. This biochar possesses high energy density and improved combustion characteristics. This research specifically aims to determine the influence of torrefaction temperature and time on the characteristics of EFB biochar, and to optimize EFB torrefaction in terms of energy yield and economic aspects considering both variables. Based on the conducted analysis, the quality of EFB biochar is influenced by temperature and time, as evidenced by an increase in fixed carbon content and heating value from 5.71% to 41.33% and 15.56 MJ/kg to 23.61 MJ/kg, respectively. Additionally, there is a reduction in volatile compound content from 88.52% to 49.32%, enhancing the stability of biochar as a fuel under the most extreme torrefaction conditions (300°C - 75 minutes). Although the improvement in quality is continuous, excessive torrefaction at these extreme operating conditions leads to energy loss, necessitating optimization based on energy yield parameters. The optimal torrefaction occurs at temperatures of 225-250°C for 30 minutes. Under these optimum conditions, the production cost at a laboratory scale ranges from Rp15,430.62/MJ to Rp18,692.97/MJ.