Effect of torrefaction on oil palm empty fruit bunch pelletization

Abstract

This paper focuses on the properties of raw and torrified pellet from EFB by varying different parameters including energy consumption, moisture adsorption, Meyer  hardness test and pellet density. To save storage space and transport costs, it can be compressed into fuel pellets of high physical and energetic density. The pelletizing  properties were determined using single pellet press and pellet stability was determined by compression testing. Pelletization of raw and torrified empty fruit bunch (EFB) from compression single pellet press (SPP) was investigated to quantify the energy consumption and pellet properties including moisture adsorption, pellet density and Meyer hardness. Energy consumption for torrified EFB pellet were significantly higher than those for raw EFB pellet, while the moisture adsorption rate of torrified EFB pellets increased with increasing the severity of torrefaction.

Keywords: oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) torrefaction; pelletization.