Properties and Characteristics of Compressed Biofuel Production from Empty Palm Fruit Bunches

Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Applied Science, King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok, Thailand.

^* Corresponding author: tanuwat.l@sci.kmutnb.ac.th

Abstract

Thailand sits in the third place of the global rankings for crude palm oil production with an annual output of approximately 2 million tons/p.a., or 1.2% of the global output. Empty palm fruit bunches is one of residual from palm oil extraction process of Palm Oil industry. The objective of this research was to study properties and characteristics of biofuel made from empty fruit bunches and mixed with black rice hush with various composition ratios of empty palm fruit bunches and black rice husk as 100:0, 90:10, 80:20, 70:30, 60:40 and 50:50. Only the biofuels with a ratio of 100:0 and 90:10 could be formed to be compressed biofuels. The heating values of biofuels were analyzed by Gallenkamp Autobomb Calorimeter whereas other fuel properties and characteristics were tested and analyzed according to ASTM standards. The comparison results between biofuel from a mixture ratio 100:0 and 90:10 showed that the average of heating value, ash content, carbon content and combustion time (minute per one piece) were 4,672.46 and 4,199.33 cal/g, 21.73% and 29.30%, 12.07% and 16.28%, 92.33 and 63 minutes, respectively.