TGA Analysis of Torrified Biomass from Malaysia for Biofuel Production

摘要

This project investigated the possibility of converting biomass wastes into solid fuels by undergoing torrefaction process. Rubber seed kernel was used to produce torrefied material and the factors affecting torrefaction were investigated. The biomass waste was dried, ground, sieved, heated and cooled to obtain the torrefied material. It was found that minimum 30% of the moisture content was removed from its original value during torrefaction process. Almost 100% of the calorific value in all the samples can be retained or increased by up to 10% from the original waste calorific value. The proximate analysis was carried out using Thermo Gravimetric Analyzer (TGA) where rubber seed kernels exhibited high fixed carbon region at the respective temperature. At the optimum condition of temperature 280°C and particle size of 0.025 mm, the torrefied material produced is viable to be promoted at a larger scale.