Preliminary Study of Microwave Irradiation Towards Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunches Biomass

Muhammad Iqbal Ahmad¹, Mohd Sukhairi Mat Rasat¹^*, Shahril Nizam Mohamed Soid²^*, Mazlan Mohamed¹^*, Zairi Ismael Rizman³^*, Mohd Hazim Mohd Amini¹^*
¹Advanced Material Research Cluster, Faculty of Earth Science, University Malaysia Kelantan, Jeli, Kelantan, Malaysia
²Universiti Kuala Lumpur, Malaysian Spanish Institute, Kulim, Kedah, Malaysia
³Universiti Teknologi MARA (Terengganu), Dungun, Terengganu, Malaysia

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Abstract : In this study, torrefaction via microwave irradiation was introduced towards oil palm empty fruit bunches (EFB) samples. The samples of 10 g was fed into the quartz type crucible inside the microwave with the power input limit to 385 W. Continous nitrogen up to 50 ml/min were induced and promoted the non oxidative atmosphere in the closed crucible. This proved the increased of energy properties as high 23.6 MJ/kg for torrefied samples comparable to raw 14.8 MJ/kg. On the result of proximate analysis, fixed carbon shows the increase trends whereby the volatile matter decreased. Torrefaction has been found to improve the energy properties of oil palm EFB biomass as a fuel.

Keywords : torrefaction,oil palm empty fruit bunches,energy properties