Briquetting of Empty Fruit Bunch Fibre and Palm Shell as a Renewable Energy Fuel

摘要

Malaysian palm oil industry produces vast amount of biomass, mainly from the palm oil milling sector. Converting oil palm biomass into a uniform solid fuel through briquetting process appears to be potentially an attractive solution in upgrading its properties and to add value as renewable energy fuels. In this study, raw materials including Empty Fruit Bunch (EFB), in fibrous form and palm shell were mixed in certain ratios and densified into briquettes at high pressure using piston press technology in a palm oil mill. The blending ratios of shell to EFB (w/w%) for the production trials were fixed at 20, 30, 40 and 60%. The raw materials and briquettes produced were analysed to determine their physical and chemical properties. From the analysis, it was found that the average calorific values and specific densities for the blending ratios of 20-60% ranged from 17995-18322 kJ kg~(-1) and from 1179-1225 kg m~(-3), respectively. All these figures were higher than the calorific value and specific density of palm biomass briquettes produced from 100% EFB fibre. The properties of palm biomass briquettes obtained from the study were compared with those of the commercial sawdust briquettes and selected parameters of German standard DIN 51731 on calorific value, density and moisture content. The details of the study were highlighted in this study. Some of economic advantages in setting up the briquetting plant in a palm oil mill was also discussed. Overall, the presence of high shell in palm biomass briquettes increased the calorific value, specific density and quality of the briquette as well. Palm biomass briquettes can become an important renewable energy fuel source in the future for the global market, especially for the development of the second generation biofuel via thermochemical conversion.