CATALYTIC GASIFICATION OF OIL PALM EMPTY FRUIT BUNCH BY USING INDONESIAN BENTONITE AS THE CATALYST

Nabila Aprianti; Muhammad Faizal; Muhammad Said; Subriyer Nasir

doi:10.5937/jaes0-28781

Nabila Aprianti Universitas Sriwijaya, Graduate School, Doctoral Program of Environmental Science, Palembang, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7391-5178
Muhammad Faizal Universitas Sriwijaya, Faculty of Engineering, Chemical Engineering Department, Palembang, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1256-1150
Muhammad Said Universitas Sriwijaya, Faculty of Engineering, Chemical Engineering Department, Palembang, Indonesia
Subriyer Nasir Universitas Sriwijaya, Faculty of Engineering, Chemical Engineering Department, Palembang, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6444-9101

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5937/jaes0-28781

Keywords: syngas, waste, bentonite, empty fruit bunch, gasification

Abstract

Oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB is one of the enormous waste expected to become a renewable energy source. This study aimed to convert OPEFB into syngas through a gasification process using bentonite as a catalyst. The effects of temperature and product gas catalysts were investigated, and the efficiency of the gasification process was summarized. The process has used an updraft gasifier at 350-550 °C and air as the gasification medium (ER 0.2). The results indicate that syngas can be produced by updraft gasifier. When the temperature increase, the H₂ and CO rising. The highest H₂ and CO content of 27.74% and 20.43% are obtained at 550°C when bentonite applied. HHV and LHV range of 3.38~12.79 MJ/Nm³ and 3.03~11.58 MJ/Nm³, respectively. The maximum carbon conversion efficiency (CCE) and cold gas efficiency (CGE) reach 85.49% and 82.34%. Bentonite has been able to increase the concentration of the gas composition especially H₂ and CO and the heating value of syngas.

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