MALAYSIAN PALM OIL INDUSTRY RESIDUES: AVAILABILITY, CHARACTERISTICS AND AS RESOURCE FOR MALAYSIAN INDUSTRIES

摘要

The world renewable energy has seen its market growing of late due to the higher prices of traditionalfossil hydrocarbons. Biomass is seen as one of the potential bioenergy resource. Despite being the main producer ofpalm oil that could be used for biodiesel production, Malaysia is also gearing towards utilisation of its availablebiomass as a source of energy. There are about 400 palm oil mills in Malaysia servicing 4.5 million hectares of oilpalm plantation. The residues generated from this industry consist of the mill and plantation residues. The palm oilmill generates residues around the clock while the plantation generates abundant lignocellulosic type biomass. Themajor residues generated from the palm oil mill are the mesocarp fibre, empty fruit bunches (EFB) and palm oil milleffluent (POME) while the plantation generates the waste palm trees consisting of the fronds, trunks and roots of theoil palm tree. This paper will review and discuss the amounts of these residues available annually, characteristics ofthe biomass and its value in terms of energy production. These biomass are also currently being utilised in the woodbased industries, pulp and paper and for other value added products. Recent utilisation of these biomass for energyhas also been researched and developed. Potential of on-going R&D on biomass utilisation for biofuels in Malaysiafrom various institutes will also be highlighted.