TORREFACTION OF OIL PALM EMPTY FRUIT BUNCH (EFB) BRIQUETTES

1. Torrefaction of Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch (EFB) briquettes
- Bemgba Bevan Nyakuma -
IGCESH 2014
- Johor Bahru, Malaysia -

2. Co-authors
2
Anwar Johari, Arshad Ahmad,
Tuan Amran Tuan Abdullah, Syie Luing Wong.

3. 3
Outline
What is Biomass Torrefaction?
Why is Torrefaction important?
How can Torrefaction be carried out?

4. 4
• Mild pyrolysis  thermal pre-treatment
200-300°C  oxygen deficient environment.
• Drying, Devolatization, Depolymerisation.
• Removes H2O and CO2
• Properties of Torrefied biomass  temperature,
time & biomass type.
What is Biomass Torrefaction?

5. Importance of Torrefaction?
5
• Mass loss  hemicellulose
decomposition
• Improves heating value &
energy density
• Structure modification 
brittleless or grindability
Weight Loss during Torrefaction of Wood

6. Importance of Torrefaction?
6
• Decrease in mass,
devolatization
depolymerisation 
• O/C & H/C ratios.
• Higher heating value
(HHV), Energy density
Van Krevelen Diagram

7. Importance of Torrefaction?
7
• Increased C & reduced O content 
reduces thermodynamic losses
• Reduced moisture  pelletization &
densification  handling & transport
• Reduces hygroscopicity  long term
storage

8. 8
• Colour changes in
torrefied biomass
• Carbon & Fixed Carbon
content
• Examples of Torrefaction
• roasting of coffee beans,
• low temp production of
biochar
Colour changes during Torrefaction of Palm waste
Importance of Torrefaction?

9. How can Torrefaction be carried out?
9

10. How can Torrefaction be carried out?
10
• Size Reduction Torrefaction 
Pelletization
• Pelletization biomass pre-
treatment technique
• Improves biomass fuel properties
 mass-heat transfer

11. How can Torrefaction be carried out?
11
• Our method proposed
reversing the process;
• Pelletization Torrefaction
 Size Reduction
• Why  normal procedure
inefficient, costly, & time
consuming

12. Methodology
12
Experimental set up for oil palm EFB
Briquette Torrefaction.

13. 13
Results & Discussion?
Temperature
(°C )
Mass of Torrefied EFB
Briquette (g)
Mass Yield
(g)
Mass Yield
(%)
220 9.02 0.90 90.20
250 7.44 0.74 74.40
275 6.25 0.63 62.50
300 4.22 0.42 42.20
Effect of Torrefaction Temperature of oil palm EFB Briquettes.
• Mass yield decreased from 90.20 - 42.20 % with
increasing temperature
• Due to drying, partial devolatization & hemicellulose
depolymerisation

14. 14
Any Results?
• Colour gradually changed from greyish brown to black.
• Increase in carbon & fixed carbon content  partial
devolatization and decomposition of hemicellulose.
(a) Raw feedstock; (b) 220 °C (c) 250 °C (d) 275 °C (e) 300 °C.

15. 15
Results…
Time
(min)
Mass of Torrefied EFB
Briquette (g)
Mass Yield
(g)
Mass Yield
(%)
15.00 9.33 0.93 93.30
30.00 7.89 0.79 78.90
60.00 4.22 0.42 42.20
Effect of Residence Time on Torrefaction of oil palm EFB Briquettes
• Mass yield  93.3 % to 42.20 %.
• Ym at t = 15 mins is  drying  mass yield  moisture content.
• Ym at t =30, 60 mins  devolatization & hemicellulose decomp.
 carbon & fixed carbon content.

16. 16
Conclusion
• Temperature and residence time significantly 
mass yield of oil palm EFB Briquettes during
torrefaction.
• Optimal mass yield of oil palm EFB briquettes
torrefaction can be achieved at 300 °C @ t = 60 mins.
• Torrefaction of pelletized palm waste showed higher
mass yield than previously reported.

17. Thank you
17

18. References
18
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