Siti Shawalliah Idris

Investigation on thermochemical behaviour of low rank Malaysian coal, oil palm biomass and their blends during pyrolysis via thermogravimetric analysis (TGA)

This study aims to investigate the behaviour of Malaysian sub-bituminous coal (Mukah Balingian), oil palm biomass (empty fruit bunches (EFB), kernel shell (PKS) and mesocarp fibre (PMF)) and their respective blends during pyrolysis using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The coal/palm biomass blends were prepared at six different weight ratios and experiments were carried out under dynamic conditions using nitrogen as inert gas at various heating rates to ramp the temperature from 25 degrees C to 900 degrees C. The derivative thermogravimetric (DTG) results show that thermal decomposition of EFB, PMF and PKS exhibit one, two and three distinct evolution profiles, respectively. Apparently, the thermal profiles of the coal/oil palm biomass blends appear to correlate with the percentage of biomass added in the blends, thus, suggesting lack of interaction between the coal and palm biomass. First-order reaction model were used to determine the kinetics parameters for the pyrolysis of coal, palm biomass and their respective blends.

Combustion characteristics of Malaysian oil palm biomass, sub-bituminous coal and their respective blends via thermogravimetric analysis (TGA)

The combustion characteristics of Malaysia oil palm biomass (palm kernel shell (PKS), palm mesocarp fibre (PMF) and empty fruit bunches (EFB)), sub-bituminous coal (Mukah Balingian) and coal/biomass blends via thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were investigated. Six weight ratios of coal/biomass blends were prepared and oxidised under dynamic conditions from temperature 25 to 1100°C at four heating rates. The thermogravimetric analysis demonstrated that the EFB and PKS evolved additional peak besides drying, devolatilisation and char oxidation steps during combustion. Ignition and burn out temperatures of blends were improved in comparison to coal. No interactions were observed between the coal and biomass during combustion. The apparent activation energy during this process was evaluated using iso-conversional model free kinetics which resulted in highest activation energy during combustion of PKS followed by PMF, EFB and MB coal. Blending oil palm biomass with coal reduces the apparent activation energy value.

Yields Performance of Automotive Paint Sludge via Microwave Assisted Pyrolysis

This paper reported on the product yield of automotive paint sludge via microwave assisted pyrolysis. By having an optimum weight sample loading and power level at 500g and 1000W respectively, optimum product in terms of liquid yields has been obtained. This desired liquid product comprised hydrocarbon material since it contains oil layer and almost 40% of the product can be recovered from the automotive paint sludge with an optimum microwave parameter. Furthermore, the liquid product has a potential to be used as fuel since it exhibit high energy content at 22.6 MJ/kg.

An overview of oil palm biomass torrefaction: Effects of temperature and residence time

Biomass is characterized as high moisture content, low bulk and energy density, possesses hygroscopic behaviour and poor grindability material as compared to the superior coal. A thermal treatment called torrefaction is a heating of biomass in a temperature range between 200°C to 300°C under inert atmosphere in order to upgrade biomass properties. Torrefied biomass has many similar characteristics to coal such as low moisture content, high bulk and energy density, hydrophobic and good grindability. This paper reviews the effects of oil palm biomass torrefaction in terms of temperature and residence time. This is because comprehensive studies on torrefaction parameters need to be carried out since different parameters might affect the chemical and physical characteristic of the torrefied product. Hence, this paper aims to discuss the effects of different torrefaction temperature and residence time towards physicochemical characteristic, mass and energy yield as well as calorific value of torrefied oil palm biomass.

Thermogravimetric analysis of Silantek coal, Palm Kernel Shell, Palm Kernel Shell char and their blends during combustion

Preliminary thermogravimetric studies of Silantek coal (SL), Palm Kernel Shell (PKS), PKS char and their blends have been performed in a Thermogravimetry Analyser(TGA). PKS char were produced using microwave irradiation carbonization system at power of 300 Watt, with nitrogen flow rate of 150 mL/min for 30 minutes. Combustion tests of raw and blends samples were carried out in purified air atmosphere conditions at heating rates of 20 °C/min. The SL/ PKS and SL/ PKS char blends were prepared in the weight ratios of 80:20, 60:40, 50:50, 40:60 and 20:80. Derivative thermogravimetric (DTG) results which represent the decomposition of volatile matters and char showed that raw PKS has higher reactivity than SL during combustion process. The thermal profiles of the SL: PKS blends correlated with the percentage of PKS added in the blends, representing lack of synergic effect between both samples. SL and PKS char blends results in single evolution peak, indicated possibility to be used as alternative fuel for combustion. These findings may be useful for the power generation industry in the development of future co-firing plants using coal/ biomass; however, significant development work is required before large-scale implementation can be done.

Kesan beban jisim dan aplikasi kaedah penyerap gelombang mikro kepada produk terhasil daripada sisa buangan kilang kelapa sawit melalui proses pirolisis bantuan gelombang mikro

Approximately, about 50 million tons of Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME) is produced every year, however, discharge of POME to open water source will cause negative impact to environment. High production of POME makes it impossible to dispose at the disposal company, therefore, in-situ treatment has been developed. Current disposal method implemented by palm oil industries is through biodegradable pond. This method is applied due to high water content in POME about 90% of water. Microwave assisted pyrolysis would be an alternative method to deal with the POME since not only can disposed but also can convert to valuable material such as solid char and pyrolytic oil. In this paper, effect of mass loading of POME at a range of 100 to 500 grams with additional activated carbon (AC) was studied. Microwave power level, radiation time and mixing ratio of AC were set constant at 1000 W, 30 minutes and 5%, respectively. Product yields of solid and liquid were analyzed for the best process performance. Solid char obtained has a potential to be utilized as solid fuel since its energy content was >20 MJ/kg and has high carbon content at >80%. Meanwhile, about 20% of chemical content in the pyrolytic oil has the carbon number in the range of C1 to C10.

Effect of Microwave Absorber towards Pyrolysis Yield of Automotive Paint Sludge

Application of microwave absorber (MWA) does affect the yield of microwave pyrolysis process. In this study, activated carbon and graphite have been used as microwave absorbers and the results were then compared with the microwave pyrolysis process without microwave absorber. The yield of solid and liquid increased while the yield of gas decreased with the application of MWA. Chemical functional group inside MWA also affected by the microwave pyrolysis process and energy content of MWA slightly increased from 24.54 MJ/kg to 29.57 MJ/kg and 32.17 MJ/kg to 32.24 MJ/kg for activated carbon and graphite, respectively.