Nurhayati Abdullah

Universiti Sains Malaysia, George Town, Malaysia · School of Physics

The fundamental objectives of this study is to analyzed and compare the physical and chemical properties of pyrolysis products (biochar and bio-oil) derived from two oil palm wastes. Empty fruit bunch (EFB) and mesocarp fibre (MF) were subjected to pyrolysis at a temperature of 400 o C for 2 hours holding time at 10 o C/min heating rate and with ni...

The rising use of palm oil has increased palm oil waste. Several organisations repurpose the palm oil waste from the extraction process by altering its molecular structure through thermal degradation. This review paper aims to provide an overview of the various degradation methods (pyrolysis, torrefaction, gasification, and hydrothermal) used on pa...

This study evaluated the properties of banana pseudo-stem (BPS) biochar derived from two different types of pyrolysis. The fast pyrolysis experiment was performed using a worktable-scale fluidized-bed reactor, while a bench-scale fixed-bed reactor was used in the slow pyrolysis experiment. The preliminary analysis shows that the feedstock contains...

There is an abundance of biomass such as oil palm shells (OPS) that are left strewn in the disposal fields. Cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin made up a large majority of biomass in the world. These three organic polymers can produce bio-gas such as methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) which is necessary for bio-graphene fabrication. Carbon lay...

This research work studies the thermochemical properties of the densified char-based solid RE-fuel of oil palm fronds (OPF). The fuel properties of raw OPF and its char and pyrolysis liquid were determined for their suitability and sustainability on the production and further characterization of the densified char-based solid fuel. The OPF char and...

The depletion of fossil fuels has prompted research into alternative fuels made from regeneration of waste materials. Pyrolysis is a method of converting waste oil into valuable products, such as char, gas, and fuel. This study presents the catalytic pyrolysis of waste oil for producing fuel utilizing cerium oxide, CeO2/Al2O3 and zinc oxide, ZnO/Al...

Banana pseudo-stem (BPS) is one of wastes generated in banana plantation. The utilization of BPS as raw feedstock in biomass conversion has been considered as a promising way in reducing the abundance of biomass waste. The fast pyrolysis of BPS is investigated in this study in order to determine the optimum vapour residence time and pyrolysis tempe...

Conventional thermal fluids with suspended nanoparticles, known as nanofluids, have been developed for heat transfer applications. Heat transfer loss could be reduced significantly if the thermophysical properties of the heat transfer fluid are improved, which to some extent, could reduce the present global environmental challenges associated with...

The influences of several important biomass pyrolysis process parameters such as the biomass feedstock type, flow pressure, biomass feeding rate and biomass particle size play an important role to ensure an efficient pyrolysis process. Unfortunately, the determination of these parameters can be cumbersome and often requires the method of trial and...

The world is seriously searching for an alternative to fossil fuels due to their tremendous environmental effect. However, renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, hydropower, and biomass were anticipated to be alternative energies. In this study, the amount of heat generated from the combustion of coal and charcoal briquettes derived from oil...

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of pyrolysis temperature on the biochar yield and properties via slow pyrolysis of coconut flesh waste. The temperature used in the slow pyrolysis experiment was varied between 350°C to 600°C at a constant heating rate of 5°C/min. The results indicated that higher pyrolysis temperature could reduc...

The aim of this study is to investigate the potential of coconut frond as a feedstock for biochar production via slow pyrolysis process. Proximate, elemental and thermogravimetric analysis were performed to evaluate the chemical and thermal properties of the coconut frond. The percentage of its lignocellulosic component and high heating value were...

Coagulation of the dispersed nanoparticles in the base fluid diminishes its thermo-physical and transport properties, leading to its low performances as a heat transfer medium for thermal applications. In this paper, Al2O3-water and CuO – water nanofluids were synthesized using NaOH, NH4OH and acetic acid as surface charge modifiers to improve the...

In this research, the combustion properties of coal and biochar were investigated and compared to identify the potentiality of biochar for coal replacement application. Biochar is derived from the pyrolysis of palm pressed fibre (PPF) at 400 oC. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was used to study the combustion profiles of the materials. The biochar...

In this research, the combustion properties of coal and biochar were investigated and compared to identify the potentiality of biochar for coal replacement application. Biochar is derived from the pyrolysis of palm pressed fibre (PPF) at 400 o C. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was used to study the combustion profiles of the materials. The biocha...

Interest in using biomass energy as an alternative to fossil fuels has advanced in recent years. This study aimed to assess the effects of torrefaction on the quality of pyrolysis products. Oil palm biomass, such as empty fruit bunches (EFB), mesocarp fiber (MF) and palm kernel shell (PKS) were either untreated (untorrefied) or torrefied (treated),...

The fundamental objectives of this study is to analyzed and compare the physical and chemical properties of pyrolysis products (biochar and bio-oil) derived from two oil palm wastes. Empty fruit bunch (EFB) and mesocarp fibre (MF) were subjected to pyrolysis at a temperature of 400 °C for 2 hours holding time at 10 °C/min heating rate and with nitr...

The objective of this research work is to investigate the effect of torrefaction on the pyrolysis product. Biomass materials such as empty fruit bunch (EFB), mesocarp fibre (MF) and palm shell (PKS) were torrefied and pyrolyzed. The experiment conditions were set to be respectively at 220 o C of temperature, 10 o C/min of heating rate and 30 minute...

The objective of this study was to produce briquette from the mixture of pyrolysis products. Palm shell was pyrolyzed at a temperature of 400°C for 2 h holding time and heating rate of 10°C/min. The biochar and bio-oil ratio was prepared at 3:1 weight percentages for briquette. The viscosity of bio-oil was improved to increase the bonding forces. T...

Interest in using biomass energy as an alternative to fossil fuels has advanced in recent years. This study aimed to assess the effects of torrefaction on the quality of pyrolysis products. Oil palm biomass, such as empty fruit bunches (EFB), mesocarp fiber (MF) and palm kernel shell (PKS) were either untreated (untorrefied) or torrefied (treated),...

Pot experiments were carried out in a 50% shaded-house to investigate the effect of biochar produced from banana stem by pyrolysis on the growth of capsicum. Three other fertilizers were used as comparison. Five rates of biochar and fertilizers (0, 1, 10, 50 and 100 t/ha) were investigated in a randomized complete block design with 4 replications....

Pyrolysis experiment was conducted at operational temperature of 300 - 500 ° C, 2h retention time, 10 ° C heating rate and N2 flow rate of 2L/min on palm kernel shell (PKS), empty fruit bunch (EFB) and mesorcop fibre(MF) with an objective to classify the potential applications of bio-chars, precisely for coal replacement application. From the resul...

As a renewable alternative energy source, biomass is currently receiving serious attention as a means to meet energy demands. Palm kernel shell (PKS) has been selected from among other oil palm wastes for thermochemical conversion studies for the purpose of solid/liquid fuel production. In this study, the influence of the washing pre-treatment proc...

The aim of this study is to investigate the characteristic of corn cob as a biomass feedstock for slow pyrolysis process. This was achieved by using proximate, elemental and thermogravimetric (TG) analysis as well as heating value, pH and lignocellulosic determination. Proximate analysis was performed using ASTM E1756-01, ASTM E1755-01 and ASTM E87...

Empty fruit bunches (EFB) are treated with distilled water at different washing medium temperature. The effects on the yield distribution of pyrolysis products and its particulate emission released are studied via feedstock behaviours analysis and the effectiveness of washing pre-treatment. Room temperature washing medium is considered as the optim...

The abundance of empty fruit bunches (EFB) from oil palm mill made them an economically attractive and viable source of energy nowadays. Converting pyrolyzed EFB into densified solid fuel (briquette) could overcome the troublesome of using raw material which has low energy density and lack of uniform properties for domestic and industrial energy ut...

Pyrolysis of empty fruit bunches (EFB) was performed in a fixed bed reactor equipped with liquid collecting system. Pyrolysis process was conducted by varying the terminal pyrolysis temperature from 300 to 500°C under heating rate of 10°C/min for at least 2 hours. Char yield was obtained highest at 300°C around 55.88 wt%, and started to decrease as...

Biomass is an important renewable source of energy. Residues that are obtained from harvesting and agricultural products can be utilised as fuel for energy generation by conducting any thermal energy conversion technology. The conversion of biomass to bio oil is one of the prospective alternative energy resources. Therefore, in this study fast pyro...

This study was an attempt to produce bio-oil from banana pseudo-stem, a waste of banana cultivation, using fast pyrolysis technology. The compositions were determined and the thermal degradation behaviour of the raw material was analyzed using Perkin-Elmer Simultaneous Thermal Analyzer.(STA) 6000. A 300 g/h fluidized bed bench scale fast pyrolysis...

This study was an attempt to produce bio-oil from banana pseudo-stem, a waste of banana cultivation, using fast pyrolysis technology. The compositions were determined and the thermal degradation behaviour of the raw material was analyzed using Perkin-Elmer Simultaneous Thermal Analyzer (STA) 6000. A 300 g/h fluidized bed bench scale fast pyrolysis...

Banana pseudo-stem and fruit-bunch-stem are agricultural residues that can be used for conversion to bio-char, bio-oil, and gases by using thermochemical process. The aim of this work is to characterize banana pseudo-stem and banana fruit-bunch-stem through proximate analysis, elemental analysis, chemical analysis, thermo-gravimetric analysis, and...

In palm oil industry, oil palm biomass wastes such as empty fruit bunches (EFB), pressed fruit fibres (PFF) and kernel shells (OPS) from the mills, and also fronds (OPF) and trunks (OPT) from the fields are generated with an annual increment of 5% every year in Malaysia. These biomasses are major solid wastes which are potentially valuable source o...

The oil palm fronds (OPF) have the great potential in satisfy-ing the energy demand due to its abundant availability. Due to limited usage and commercialization, lack of research work attempted on the OPF as compared with other oil palm wastes. Thermal conversion process, pyrolysis was performed on the OPF in the range between of 300-500 O C for tw...

The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of the ash content of oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) feedstock on the biochar yield percentage produced by slow pyrolysis experiments. The characteristics of the biochar produced were also investigated. Proximate analysis, elemental analysis and lignocellulosic analysis of EFB feedstock...

In Malaysia, there are presently 4.3 million hectares of oil palm plantation, which produce over 100 million tonnes of biomass, such as empty fruit bunches (EFB), kernel shells (oil palm shell or OPS) and pressed fruit fibres (PPF) from mills, as well as oil palm fronds (OPF) and oil palm trunks (OPT) from fields. In this work, proximate, ultimate,...

Agricultural residue such as banana waste is one of the biomass categories that can be used for conversion to bio-char, bio-oil, and gases by using thermochemical process. The aim of this work is to characterize banana leaves and pseudo-stem through proximate analysis, elemental analysis, chemical analysis, thermo-gravimetric analysis, and heating...

Using the pyrolysis process, agricultural residue such as banana waste can be converted into bio-char, bio-oil, and gases. The fast pyrolysis process of banana wastes on the available 150g/h rig requires particle size reduction. The particle size of less than 150�m constitutes 50% and particles in the 150-250�m ranges make up 28% of the distributio...

The palm oil industry generates almost 94% of biomass in Malaysia, while other agricultural and forestry by-products contribute the remaining of 6%. Oil palm fronds (OPF) are estimated to be the highest available biomass amounting to 44.84 million tonnes in Malaysia. However, studies on OPF for thermochemical conversion technology which has good po...

Interest in producing energy to reduce green house gas emissions using biomass as a feedstock is increasing worldwide. In a fluidized bed reactor, the feeding of the feedstock plays an important role in the burning process. In this study, feeding tests were carried out using gravitational method for oil palm shell (OPS) and oil palm fronds (OPF). T...

Biomass seems to have a great potential as a source of renewable energy compared with other sources. The use of biomass as a source of energy could help to reduce the wastes and also to minimize the dependency on non-renewable energy, hence minimize environmental degradation. Among other types of biomass, oil palm wastes are the major contribution...

Oil palm is the most important product from Malaysia that has helped to change the scenario of it’s agriculture and economy. Lignocellulosic biomass which is produced from the oil palm industries include oil palm trunks (OPT), oil palm fronds (OPF), empty fruit bunches (EFB) and palm pressed fibres (PPF), palm shells and palm oil mill effluent palm...

Water washing pre-treatment on empty fruit bunches (EFB) of oil palm was carried out for reducing some ash in the EFB to improve its quality prior to any thermal conversion process to yield better quality fuel. EFB was washed by varying some parameters such as the residence time and the amount of water used to study the effectiveness of washing wit...

In this paper, the drying characteristic of Empty Fruit Bunches (EFB) of oil palm is presented. The EFB, a waste of oil palm processing was used as the test sample and dried using a solar drying system that was built. The system used was comprised of six double-pass solar collectors with porous media in the second channel, which were connected in a...

Production of biochar from slow pyrolysis of biomass is a promising carbon negative procedure since it removes the net carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and produce recalcitrant carbon suitable for sequestration in soil. Biochar production can vary significantly with the pyrolysis parameter. This study investigated the impact of temperature and heat...

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 sho...

As production of palm oil is expanding, a more efficient use of oil palm biomass to obtain more energy from oil palm plantations is investigated. The work was carried out on a fluidised bed bench scale fast pyrolysis unit, with the objective of determining the important conditions and key variables which are required to maximise the liquid yield an...

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...

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 150 g/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 degree...

A solar drying system which consists of six solar collectors arranged in two banks of three collectors each in series and a drying chamber is investigated. The collector is a double-pass type with the second channel filled with porous media while the drying chamber consists of three levels of trays with the upper side covered with a transparent gla...

This study is focused on the drying pre-treatment on whole empty fruit bunches [EFB] oil palm wastes. The drying process of whole EFB wastes by conventional method is investigated using the conventional oven in order to obtain less than 10 mf wt % moisture content. Normally, the biomass is dried to less than 10 mf wt % in most laboratory experiment...

Palm oil and related products represent the second largest export of Malaysia. Malaysia's palm oil production in 2005 is projected to reach approximately 15 million tonnes (301,000 barrels per day) compared to its petroleum production in 2004, estimated at 43 million tonnes (855,000 barrels per day), of which 16 million tonnes (321,000 barrels per...

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 150 g/h fluidised bed bench scale fast py...

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 ana...

Oil palm waste especially empty fruit bunches (EFB) is a major management and disposal problem in Malaysia. This is an exploratory evaluation of the potential for recovering renewable fuels from the EFB via fast pyrolysis. Preliminary studies were done on the characteristics of the empty fruit bunches, and the thermal behaviours using thermogravime...