Torrefaction was thermochemical processes to make biomass a fuel that had better properties, such as increased carbon content and calorific value. It was a temperature-sensitive process that was effective between 200 °C and 300 °C in an inert environment with a residence time of 20-60 minutes. Palm kernel shell was one of the biomass that has the potential to be used as fuel, where its availability was abundant and has good physical properties. In this study of palm kernel shell torrefaction was carried out from 0.5 cm sieve with three variations in temperature and residence time follows 250 °C - 300 °C and 20-40 minutes. The results obtained were the increase in temperature and holding time causes an increase in the calorific value but relatively on energy yield because of a large mass loss at a temperature of 300 °C. The optimum process for torrefaction of palm kernel shell according to calorific value and energy yield was 275 °C with residence time 20 minutes.
Torrefaction is a pre-treatment in thermochemical processes in order to make biomass becomes fuel with better properties, such as the increasing of carbon content and caloric value. Torrefaction is generally carried out at a temperature range of 200-300°C with holding temperature of 30-60 minutes in inert conditions and atmospheric pressure. On the other side, palm oil is one of biomass that is potential to be used as fuel in which its availability is abundant and has good physical properties. The purpose of this study is to increase the caloric value and thermochemical properties by torefaction process. Within this study of palm kernel shell, torrefaction is carried out from 0.5 cm sieve using the COMB (Counter Flow Multi-Buffle) method at temperature of 250°C with heat flow rate of 4 cm3/minute and characterized by its physicochemical properties. The obtained results are the energy yield of 0.77 with an energy density of 1.21 and the caloric value that increases from 16.82 to 19.11 MJ. This is also supported by the results of ultimate analysis where the carbon level increases then the O/C and H/C ratio decreases. Moreover, based on proximate analysis, volatiles matter level decreases by 9.34% and ash content increases by 0.64%. To sum up, palm kernel shells can be enhanced by their physicochemical characteristics through torrefaction.
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