Effect of Atmosphere and Biomass Form on torrefaction

Torrefaction of palm oil empty fruit bunches (EFB), mesocarp fibre and kernel shell, wastes from the palm oil industry, was carried out in a fixed bed tubular reactor in the presence of oxygen at different concentrations from 0 to 15 % (nitrogen balance). The effects of torrefaction conditions, oxygen concentration (0, 3, 9 and 15 %), temperature (493, 523 and 573 K) and biomass size (0.375, 1.5, 3 and 6 mm), on the mass and energy yields were investigated. The mass yield decreased with an increase in temperature and oxygen concentration, but was not affected by biomass size. The energy yield decreased with an increase in oxygen concentration. It was found that oxidation was occurring along with torrefaction in this project. The ultimate analysis was also conducted