Properties and thermal behavior of raw and torrefied empty fruit bunch (EFB)

The torrefaction of an oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) which could be consider as the waste products from oil palm industry was carried out in this study. This process is carried out in two ways which are raw and torrefied sample inside a microwave with the presence of nitrogen gas and the components of peristaltic pump and temperature controller to hold the time, temperature and power given to the EFB. For raw sample, moisture content and colour changes is being analysis and the result show even it looks dry, there is quite high value of moisture content inside the EFB which is 9.7%. As for colour’s observation, the colour change become darker colour from bright colour.
As for torrefaction process, the mass loss and mass yield were investigated right after the sample being torrefied. For the thermal behaviour of the sample, the torrefaction product is being analysed by using thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and also bomb calorimeter. Bomb calorimeter is used to identify the calorific value. For this study, the calorific value ration of the torrefied EFB in the presence of nitrogen gas is about 15.8 MJ/kg with its energy yield of 80.4% and while for torrefaction was 26.5337 MJ/kg. As for thermal behaviour of the sample, the process was carried out in a (TGA-DSC). The result showed that torrefaction is depended on the composition of lignocellulosic constituent and torrefaction increased the carbon content and decreased the hydrogen and oxygen content. Thus, it could be identified that the size of the sample, power and temperature influences the product of torrefaction.