This study was an attempt to produce bio-oil from empty fruit bunches (EFB) of oil palm waste using fast pyrolysis technology. A 150 g/h fluidised bed bench scale fast pyrolysis unit operating at atmospheric pressure was used to obtain the pyrolysis liquid. A comparison of the elemental composition of unwashed and washed feedstock was made in this study. With the five methods of treatment being considered, elements such as Al, P, Cl, Ti, Fe and Cu were removed during the washing. However, Na, S and K decreased with the reduction of the ash content of the feedstock. The properties of the liquid product were analysed and compared with wood derived bio-oil and petroleum fuels. The liquids produced had high acid content, with a High Heating Value (HHV) of about 50% of conventional petroleum fuel. The char content was in the range of 0.2–2.0%. The composition and particle size distribution of the washed and unwashed feedstock were determined, and the thermal degradation behaviour was analysed by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The product yield for washed EFB was similar to that of low ash wood, while the product yield for unwashed EFB was much closer to that of higher ash feedstock. The pyrolysis liquids derived from unwashed EFB were found to be in both an aqueous and an organic phase, which presents challenges for their commercial application as a fuel. Some possibilities of upgrading were also discussed in this work.

An overview of the research on biomass upgrading by torrefaction for the production of biofuels is presented. Torrefaction is a thermal conversion method of biomass in the low temperature range of 200–300 °C. Biomass is pre-treated to produce a high quality solid biofuel that can be used for combustion and gasification. In this review the characteristics of torrefaction are described and a short history of torrefaction is given. Torrefaction is based on the removal of oxygen from biomass which aims to produce a fuel with increased energy density by decomposing the reactive hemicellulose fraction. Different reaction conditions (temperature, inert gas, reaction time) and biomass resources lead to various solid, liquid and gaseous products. A short overview of the different mass and energy balances is presented. Finally, the technology options and the most promising torrefaction applications and their economic potential are described.

Malaysia has an abundance of energy resources, both renewable and non-renewable. The largest non-renewable energy resource found in Malaysia is oil, and second, is natural gas, primarily liquefied natural gas. The production and consumption of oil, gas and coal in Malaysia are given in this paper. The energy demand and supply by source are also shown in relation to the country's fuel diversification policy. In order to reduce the overall dependence on a single source of energy, efforts were undertaken to encourage the utilization of renewable resources. Forest residue and oil palm biomass are found to be potentially of highest energy value and considered as the main renewable energy option for Malaysia.Palm oil and related products represent the second largest export of Malaysia. The total oil palm planted area in Malaysia has increased significantly in recent years. This paper gives a detailed representation of oil palm planted and produced together with its yield from the year 1976 onwards. The large amounts of available forest and palm oil residues resulting from the harvest can be utilized for energy generation and other by-products in a manner that also addresses environmental concerns related to current waste disposal methods. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

This short communication describes the evaluation of the fast pyrolysis behaviour of empty fruit bunches (EFB), one of the solid wastes of the rapidly expanding palm oil industry. A 150g/h fluidised bed bench scale fast pyrolysis unit is used to study the impact of the following key variables; the reactor temperature in the range of 400–600°C, the residence time in the range of 0.79–1.32s, and a range of particle sizes (with percentage of ash content) obtained by sieving of <150μm (8.49%), 150–250μm (7.46%), 250–300μm (6.70%) and 355–500μm (4.83%). The results confirmed the shape of the yield curve for EFB and indicated the significant difference when comparing the literature values for yields with the results obtained in this study along with the systems being used.

The article deals with the CFD modelling of fast pyrolysis of biomass in an Entrained Flow Reactor (EFR). The Lagrangian approach is adopted for the particle tracking, while the flow of the inert gas is treated with the standard Eulerian method for gases. The model includes the thermal degradation of biomass to char with simultaneous evolution of gases and tars from a discrete biomass particle. The chemical reactions are represented using a two-stage, semi-global model. The radial distribution of the pyrolysis products is predicted as well as their effect on the particle properties. The convective heat transfer to the surface of the particle is computed using the Ranz-Marshall correlation.

BO(2)-technology, a new technology for biomass upgrading into commodity solid fuel, consists of an innovative torrefaction technology concept (mild temperature treatment between 200 and 300 degrees C) in combination with pre-drying (if needed) and pelletisation. It enables energy-efficient and cost-effective production of 2(nd) generation pellets with superior properties in terms of high energy density (1.5-2x conventional pellets), excellent grindability and water resistant nature (eliminating/reducing biological degradation and spontaneous heating, enabling outdoor storage). BO(2)pellets (TM) can be produced from a broad range of biomass streams, such as wood chips, agricultural residues and various residues from the food and feed processing industry. ECN now operates a 50-100 kg/h pilot plant and has teamed up with industrial partner Econcern to bring BO(2)-technology to the market.

This review covers the production and utilisation of liquids from the thermal processing of biomass and related materials to substitute for synthetic phenol and formaldehyde in phenol formaldehyde resins. These resins are primarily employed in the manufacture of wood panels such as plywood, MDF, particle-board and OSB. The most important thermal conversion methods for this purpose are fast pyrolysis and vacuum pyrolysis, pressure liquefaction and phenolysis. Many feedstocks have been tested for their suitability as sources of phenolics including hard and softwoods, bark and residual lignins. Resins have been prepared utilising either the whole liquid product, or a phenolics enriched fraction obtained after fractional condensation or further processing, such as solvent extraction. None of the phenolics production and fractionation techniques covered in this review are believed to allow substitution of 100% of the phenol content of the resin without impacting its effectiveness compared to commercial formulations based on petroleum derived phenol. This survey shows that considerable progress has been made towards reaching the goal of a price competitive renewable resin, but that further research is required to meet the twin challenges of low renewable resin cost and satisfactory quality requirements. Particular areas of concern are wood panel press times, variability of renewable resin properties, odour, lack of reactive sites compared to phenol and potential for increased emissions of volatile organic compounds.

The fast pyrolysis of washed and unwashed empty fruit bunches (EFB), a waste of the palm oil industry, is investigated in this study. Firstly, the composition and particle size distribution of the washed and unwashed feedstock were determined and the thermal degradation behaviour was analysed by TGA. Then a 150g/h fluidised bed bench scale fast pyrolysis unit was used to study the impact of key variables: reactor temperature in the range 425–550°C and feedstock ash content in the range 1.03–5.43mfwt%. The properties of the liquid product were analysed and compared with wood derived bio-oil and petroleum fuels. It was found that the maximum ash content of washed feedstock that still yields homogenous liquids is less than about 3mfwt%. The experiments also indicated that the fast pyrolysis of washed EFB with a low ash content gave similar yields as commonly obtained for wood.

The pyrolysis of a freely moving cellulosic particle inside a 41.7mgs-1 continuously fed fluid bed reactor subjected to convective heat transfer is modelled. The Lagrangian approach is adopted for the particle tracking inside the reactor, while the flow of the inert gas is treated with the standard Eulerian method for gases. The model incorporates the thermal degradation of cellulose to char with simultaneous evolution of gases and vapours from discrete cellulosic particles. The reaction kinetics is represented according to the Broido–Shafizadeh scheme. The convective heat transfer to the surface of the particle is solved by two means, namely the Ranz–Marshall correlation and the limit case of infinitely fast external heat transfer rates. The results from both approaches are compared and discussed. The effect of the different heat transfer rates on the discrete phase trajectory is also considered.

This study is an investigation on fast pyrolysis technology of oil palm empty fruit bunches (EFB) to bio-oil. EFB is one of the solid wastes that are rapidly increasing in the palm oil industry. The composition and particle size distribution of the unwashed feedstock and washed feedstock were determined and its thermal degradation behaviour was analysed by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). A 150 g/h fluidized bed bench scale fast pyrolysis unit was used to study the impact of key variables: reactor temperature in the range of 425°C to 550°C and feedstock ash content in the range of 1.15 to 5.43 mf wt%. The properties of the liquid product were analysed and compared with wood derived bio-oil and petroleum fuels. It was found that the maximum ash content of washed feedstock that produced homogenous liquids is less than 3 mf wt%. The results of pyrolysis experiments showed that the bio-oil from washed EFB with low ash content had similar properties as wood.

BO2-technology is a new technology for biomass upgrading into commodity solid fuel. It consists of an innovative torrefaction technology concept (mild temperature treatment between 200 and 300 °C) in combination with pre-drying (if needed) and pelletisation. It enables energyefficient and cost-effective production of 2 generation pellets with superior properties in terms of high energy density (1.5-2x conventional pellets), excellent grindability and water resistant nature (eliminating/reducing biological degradation and spontaneous heating, enabling outdoor storage). BO2pellets can be produced from a broad range of biomass streams, such as wood chips, agricultural residues and various residues from the food and feed processing industry. ECN now operates a 50-100 kg/h pilot plant and has teamed up with industrial partner Econcern to bring BO2-technology to the market.