Thermogravimetric analysis on empty fruit bunch, rice husk, and rice straw for feedstock in biomass gasification.

Abstract

Thermogravimetry is a proven method used to describe the characteristics of biomass quickly and efficiently. In this study, three types of biomasses widely available in Malaysia which are rice husks (RH), rice straw (RS), and empty fruit bunch (EFB) from palm oil trees were evaluated using Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA). The aim is to investigate their applicability as potential feedstock in the gasification process. The biomass was heated from 30 to 700 °C with a heating rate of 10 °C/min. From proximate analysis, the detection of C, O, and H suggested that EFB, RH, and RS can potentially be used as carbon precursors during the energy conversion process. TG and DTA plots show there are three different stages of weight loss during the pyrolysis of biomass tested: evaporation, pyrolytic decomposition, and passive pyrolysis. The EFB shows a higher potential for gasification compared to RH and RS as it contains a higher value of carbon and a higher heating value (HHV). Besides, EFB has a decrease in hemicellulose content and higher cellulose compared to RH and RS. The obtained results will be used as input parameters for designing and simulating biomass thermochemical conversion in the gasification process.