Utilization of synthesis gas generated from agricultural waste as clean sustainable fuel

Abstract

Increased energy source demand has been the current driver of Malaysia’s economic growth. Renewable energy is therefore included in Malaysia’s energy policy to diversify its energy resources. With 77% of Malaysia’s land directed for agriculture – particularly for palm oil plantation, biomass from agriculture industries is thus considered as a viable energy resource. In addition to palm oil plantation, 18.56 million hectares of Malaysia’s tropical forest contributed substantial wood waste from logging activity. Through gasification, these resources can produce syngas. This paper aims to demonstrate the potential of palm kernel shells (PKS) and wood waste (WW) to generate syngas using a downdraft fixed bed gasifier, which has a suitable oxidation zone temperature to support syngas production. Results showed that PKS and WW syngas consisted of 94.93% and 97.92% carbon monoxide (CO) respectively with low hydrogen (H2) gas contents. The lower heating values (LHV) from PKS and WW are 10.68 MJ/kg and 10.26 MJ/kg, respectively. It can be concluded that agricultural wastes such as PKS and WW had shown high potential to become an alternative source of energy in the form of syngas.