An overview of empty fruit bunch from oil palm as feedstock for bio-oil production

Published Date
March 2014, Vol.62:174–181, doi:10.1016/j.biombioe.2014.01.002

Author 

• Siu Hua Chang ^,

• Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Malaysia, 13500 Permatang Pauh, Penang, Malaysia

Received 9 August 2013. Revised 24 December 2013. Accepted 4 January 2014. Available online 28 January 2014.

Highlights

• Palm EFB has high heating value and low greenhouse gas emissions during combustion.
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  Conversion of EFB to bio-oil is mainly by fast pyrolysis without and with catalyst.
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  Bio-oil from EFB is lower in heating value, heavier and more acidic than fuel oil.
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  The viscosity of bio-oil from EFB is between those of light and heavy fuel oils.
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  The flash and pour points of bio-oil from EFB are close to those of light fuel oil.

Abstract

Empty fruit bunch (EFB) from oil palm is one of the potential biomass to produce biofuels like bio-oil due to its abundant supply and favorable physicochemical characteristics. Confirming the assertion, this paper presents an overview of EFB as a feedstock for bio-oil production. The fundamental characteristics of EFB in terms of proximate analysis, ultimate analysis and chemical composition, as well as the recent advances in EFB conversion processes for bio-oil production like pyrolysis and solvolysis are outlined and discussed. A comparison of properties in terms of proximate analysis, ultimate analysis and fuel properties between the bio-oil from EFB and petroleum fuel oil is included. The major challenges and future prospects towards the utilization of EFB as a useful resource for bio-oil production are also addressed.

Keywords

Empty fruit bunch

Oil palm

Biomass

Pyrolysis

Bio-oil

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