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Production and Characterization of Low-Ash Empty Fruit Bunches Pellets as a Solid Biofuel

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Abstract

In searching for lignocellulosic-based alternative pellets, quality is key, ash in particular, for market acceptance and penetration. One such feedstock of growing importance, pressed empty fruit bunches (EFB) fibres, was exploited in this study via 3 different physical pretreatment methods (Tests 1–3) prior to pre-pelletising in an industrial-scale plant for improving the ash content. The ash removal effects on quality of resultant pelletised EFB (in terms of fuel and physicochemical properties) were assessed and compared with commercial pellets based on available standards. The combined sieved and water sprayed feedstock (Test 3), 1.60 wt.% ash content (pre-pelletising), yielded EFB pellets with correspondingly better ash quality (1.58 wt.%, post-pelletising) than the sieved only (Test 2) option, 2.78 wt.% and 3.63 wt.%, and the untreated (control, Test 1), 4.07 wt.% and 4.66 wt.%, respectively. Besides, all the pretreated feedstocks/biopellets exhibited much improved proximate and ultimate properties, bulk density and calorific value (≤ 18 MJ kg−1) after pre-pelletising/pelletising steps due to size reduction and drying. Both treatments (Tests 2–3) were able to produce lignocellulosic-based EFB pellets with fuel properties comparable to non-wood pellets, except for durability index (≤ 95%) and chlorine content (> 0.2 wt.%). In terms of wood pellets, Test 3 showed an advanced quality for ash compliance and reduction of unwanted ash-inducing elements, chlorine and potassium in particular, with > 40% removal efficiency. Henceforth, the combined sieving and spray water washing physical treatment of a high-ash lignocellulosic biomass offers an immediate low-hanging approach for practical utilisation and improvement of ash-related fuel properties of commercial solid biofuels.

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Data Availability

The data analysed in this manuscript are available from the corresponding author upon request.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Director-General of the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) for permission to publish this paper. Technical assistance from the staff of the Energy and Environment Unit of the Engineering and Processing Research Division, MPOB and industry collaborator, Global Green Synergy Sdn. Bhd. (GGS), were also deeply appreciated.

Funding

This work was supported by MPOB and GGS under the collaborative project entitled “Development of a process system for the formulation and production of palm-based biomass pellets”.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Energy and Environment Unit, Engineering and Processing Research Division, Malaysian Palm Oil Board, No. 6, Persiaran Institusi, Bandar Baru Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan, 43000, Kajang, Malaysia

    Abu Bakar Nasrin, Soh Kheang Loh, Mohamad Azri Sukiran, Nurul Adela Bukhari & Astimar Abdul Aziz

  2. Global Green Synergy Sdn. Bhd., Level 20, Menara Safuan, No. 80 Jalan Ampang, 50450, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    Joseph Lim, Stephen Lim & Eddy Chin

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  1. Abu Bakar Nasrin
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  2. Soh Kheang Loh
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  3. Mohamad Azri Sukiran
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  4. Nurul Adela Bukhari
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  5. Astimar Abdul Aziz
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  6. Joseph Lim
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Contributions

The following research activities were performed by specific authors: conceptualization and methodology, A.B.Nasrin, J Lim, S Lim, E Chin; formal analysis and investigation, A.B.Nasrin, J Lim, S Lim, E Chin; writing — original draft preparation, A.B. Nasrin; writing — review and editing, S.K. Loh, M.A. Sukiran, N.A. Bukhari, A.A. Aziz.

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Correspondence to Abu Bakar Nasrin.

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Nasrin, A.B., Loh, S.K., Sukiran, M.A. et al. Production and Characterization of Low-Ash Empty Fruit Bunches Pellets as a Solid Biofuel. Bioenerg. Res. 15, 517–529 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12155-021-10316-x

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