METHOD FOR UTILIZING THE WASTE FROM PALM OIL PRODUCTION BY PROCESSING IT INTO LIGNOCELLULOSE POWDER TO BE FURTHER USED FOR LIQUID AND SOLID FUEL PRODUCTION

摘要

The invention relates to techniques for utilizing the lignocellulosic wastes from palm oil production, primarily the empty fruit bunches (EFB) remaining after removal of the oil-bearing fruits. The utilization method is based on exploiting the structural features of EFB cell tissue and provides for the production of soluble sugars suitable for ethanol production and solid lignin-enriched fuel having a calorific capacity 1.5 times higher than that of the initial material. The given method includes mechanical treatment of the EFB in order to open up the channels in the fibro-vascular tissue of the plant waste, chemical treatment using diluted solutions of acids, alkalis or enzymes to increase the adsorptive capacity of the material, rapid enzymatic hydrolysis of a portion of the cellulose (60-70%) into soluble glucose, mechanical treatment of the pulp to activate the remaining portion of the cellulose (30%), extraction of the lignin-enriched residue, drying, and formation of solid fuel pellets from said residue by pressing or extrusion. During the course of palm oil production, the bunches undergo sorting and cleaning, then they are treated with live steam to remove the oil-bearing fruits, which conditions and fumigates the plant material and creates additional advantages for the use thereof in subsequent chemical and biotechnological processes. The powder that is obtained can serve as initial material in the production of liquid and solid fuel (bioethanol and pellets respectively).