Search Results (144)

A palm oil company based in Bangka is actively expanding its operations in the palm oil processing industry. The company specializes in producing crude palm oil (CPO) and palm kernel, with its production process encompassing five key stages: weighing, sterilization, threshing, pressing, and clarification. Oil loss, especially at the pressing station, is one of the company’s biggest problems. Nuts, fibers, empty bunches, and effluent are some of the sources of oil loss in CPO production. Since extreme losses that exceed set norms can cause serious inefficiencies and financial repercussions, it is imperative that the organization identifies and mitigates the underlying causes of oil loss. One option that the business could use is the fault tree analysis (FTA) method, which offers a methodical way to pinpoint the root causes of production inefficiencies to solve this problem. According to current assessments, empty bunches caused the largest average oil loss over a one-month period, with a loss rate of 0.11%. Oil loss at the pressing station is caused by a number of factors, such as inadequate maintenance practices, non-compliance with established work procedures, suboptimal ripeness levels of harvested palm fruit, and operator neglect in maintaining optimal machine pressure in accordance with company standards. To reduce oil loss in the production process and increase efficiency, these concerns need to be addressed. Full article

Palm oil production generates substantial underutilized biomass wastes, including empty fruit bunches, fiber, palm kernel shells, and palm oil mill effluent (POME). Waste-to-energy systems offer a viable pathway to convert these residues into electricity and fertilizer, supporting circular economy goals and sustainability targets. This study takes an example of palm oil waste from the Indragiri Hulu region in Riau Province in Indonesia. It develops a multi-objective optimization framework to evaluate palm oil mill WtE systems from economic, environmental, and energy output. Three scenarios are analyzed: maximal profit (MP), maximal profit with carbon tax (MPCT), and all waste processing (AWP). The MP scenario favors high-return technologies such as gasification and incineration, leading to significant greenhouse gas emissions. The MPCT scenario favors lower-emission technologies like composting and excludes high-emission, low-profit options such as POME digestion. In contrast, the AWP scenario mandates the processing of all wastes, leading to the lowest profits and the highest emissions among all scenarios. The sensitivity analysis reveals that POME processing is not feasible when electricity prices are below the government-set rate, but becomes viable once prices exceed this threshold. These findings offer valuable insights for companies and policymakers seeking to develop and implement effective strategies for optimal waste utilization. Full article

This paper investigated the changes in anatomy, ultrastructure and lignin distribution of oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) by bisulfite pretreatment. It was found that after bisulfite pretreatment, a large number of pores formed in the cell walls, and the removal of part of the lignin in the cell wall corner, partial middle layer, and other locations made the tissue structure of the EFB looser, which uncovered cellulose and broke the steric hindrance of cellulase access to cellulose in EFB, and also weakened the negative influence of lignin on cellulase. The changes can greatly contribute to the improvement of enzymatic hydrolysis after bisulfite pretreatment, which is consistent with the increased saccharification efficiency of the pretreated EFB. Poplar was also used to compare the differences and similarities between non-wood and wood materials. Full article

This work presents an effective design of a strategy to manage biomass waste (empty fruit bunch—EFB, kernel shell, and fiber) available from the processing of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) in Colombia as a renewable energy source. This type of study is conducted for the first time in the country, and the proposed strategy is structured in four phases. Firstly, an inventory of available biomass waste was prepared based on information from 45 African palm oil companies of the approximately 70 that exist in the country. It was determined that the country had about 2762 kt of available waste (63.64% EFB, 12.55% kernel shell, and 23.81% fiber) for the year 2023. The estimates were conducted using a model that correlates processing capacity, the biomass generated, and the biomass demanded. The validation was performed using national reports. Subsequently, the minimum number (six) of storage centers in Colombia, where the largest amount of biomass can be stored, was determined. The center of gravity method was used to find the geographical location of each bulk storage center (municipality of Aracataca, Agustín Codazzi, San Martín, Puerto Wilches, Castilla La Nueva, and Cabuyaru). The next step was to determine the transportation costs as a decision criterion to select the best bulk storage center. When the required storage capacity does not exceed 211 kt·year⁻¹, Agustín Codazzi is the best option because it has the lowest transportation cost (USD 1.01·t⁻¹). When the storage capacity requirements exceed 211 kt·year⁻¹ but are less than 423 kt·year⁻¹, then Puerto Wilches and/or Aracataca are the best options (transportation cost of USD 1.7·t⁻¹). In all cases, Cabuyaru has the highest costs (USD 6.56·t⁻¹). Finally, an energy potential of 50,196 × 10⁶ GJ·year⁻¹ for the collected biomass was estimated, which makes this kind of waste an environmental alternative that could replace coal in Colombia. Full article

This research aimed to evaluate the use of edible coating from a combination of liquid smoke and turmeric extract as a preservative for mackerel at room temperature. Liquid smoke was obtained from the pyrolysis of oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFB) at a temperature of 380 °C and purified by distillation at 190 °C. Liquid smoke with a concentration of 3% was combined with turmeric extract at a ratio of 2, 4, 6, and 8 g/L (CLS 2:1, CLS 4:1, CLS 6:1 and CLS 8:1). TVB-N testing showed that the mixture of liquid smoke and turmeric at a ratio of CLS 6: 1 and CLS 8: 1 maintains the freshness of fish for 48 h. Meanwhile, organoleptic testing reports that the best mixture was CLS 8:1. The number of colonies in the CLS 2:1, CLS 4:1, CLS 6:1, and CLS 8:1 mixtures were 4.92, 4.92, 4.16, and 4 × 10⁵ colonies/g after 44 h of soaking. The MPN test result at 48 h of soaking is 1.1 × 10³ MPN/g. Generally, mackerel preserved with a mixture of turmeric extract and liquid smoke with a ratio of 8:1 can be consumed up to a shelf life of 48 h at room temperature storage. Full article

Biomass, though a major energy source, remains underutilized. Biochar from biomass pyrolysis, with its high porosity and surface area, is especially useful as catalyst support, enhancing catalytic activity and reducing electron recombination in photocatalysis. Indonesia, the world’s top palm oil producer, generated around 12 million tons of empty fruit bunches (EFBs) in 2023, making EFBs a promising biochar source. This study synthesizes biochar from leftover EFB fibers at 500, 800, and 1000 °C, analyzing structural changes via infrared and Raman spectroscopy, along with particle size and surface area analysis, laying the groundwork for future biochar research. The smallest particle size and highest surface area gained was 71.1 nm and 10.6 × 10² m²/g. Spectroscopic analysis indicates that biochar produced at 1000 °C has produced nano-crystalline graphite with a crystallite size of approximately 5.47 nm. This provides higher defect density, although with lower conductivity. Other studies indicate that our biochar can be used as catalyst support for various green energy-related applications, i.e., counter electrodes, electrocatalysts, and photocatalysts. Full article

As the world’s second-largest palm oil producer, Malaysia heavily depends on its extensive oil palm cultivation, which accounts for nearly 90% of the country’s lignocellulosic biomass waste. Approximately 20–22 tonnes of empty fruit bunches (EFBs) can be derived from an initial yield of 100 tonnes of fresh fruit bunches (FFBs) from oil palm trees. The average annual amount of EFBs produced in Johor is 3233 tonnes per day. Recognising that urban areas contribute significantly to anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, and to support Malaysia’s transition from fossil fuel-based energy to a low-carbon energy system, this research employed HOMER Pro software 3.18.3 to develop an optimal hybrid renewable energy system integrating solar and biomass (EFB) energy sources in Johor, Malaysia. The most cost-effective system (solar–biomass) consists of 4075 kW solar photovoltaics, a 2100 kW biomass gasifier, 9363 battery units and 1939 kW converters. This configuration results in a total net present cost (NPC) of USD 44,596,990 and a levelised cost of energy (LCOE) of USD 0.2364/kWh. This system satisfies the residential load demand via 6,020,427 kWh (64.7%) of solar-based and 3,286,257 kWh (35.3%) of biomass-based electricity production, with an annual surplus of 2,613,329 kWh (28.1%). The minimal percentages of unmet electric load and capacity shortage, both <0.1%, indicate that all systems can meet the power demand. In conclusion, this research provides valuable insights into the economic viability and technical feasibility of powering the Kulai district with a solar–biomass system. Full article

Palm oil empty fruit bunch (OEB) is the largest source of waste in the production of crude palm oil. Utilizing this waste in various applications can help reduce its volume and mitigate adverse environmental effects. In this study, fibers from OEB without any chemical treatment are introduced into Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC)-based mortar to partially replace fine aggregates, aiming to reduce the mortar’s density. The goal of this experimental study is to observe the mechanical and physical performance of the samples according to the effect of the addition of OEB. The composite samples were made by replacing 1%, 2%, and 3% of the weight of quartz sand as the fine aggregate with OEB (fine and coarse). The hardened composites were further tested to determine their compressive strength, and it was found that the replacement of sand with OEB led to a decrease in compressive strength and flowability while alleviating the mortar’s density and affecting the setting time. The decrease in compressive strength was attributed to cavities present in the samples. Flexural tests and 28-day drying shrinkage measurements were carried out on the samples with 1% replacement of sand with OEB. The experiments showed that OEB fibers increased the flexural strength, functioned as a crack barrier, and reduced drying shrinkage. Full article

This paper presents an approach for hydrolyzing cellulose nanocrystals from oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) presented through hydrochloric acid hydrolysis under sonication–hydrothermal conditions. Differences in concentration, reaction time, and acid-to-cellulose ratio affect toward the yield, crystallinity, microstructure, and thermal stability were obtained. The highest yield of cellulose nanocrystals up to 74.82%, crystallinity up to 78.59%, and a maximum degradation temperature (T_max) of 339.82 °C were achieved through hydrolysis using 3 M HCl at 110 °C during 1 h. X-ray diffraction analysis indicated a higher diffraction peak pattern at 2θ = 22.6° and a low diffraction peak pattern at 2θ = 18°. All cellulose nanocrystals showed a crystalline size of under 1 nm, and it was indicated that the sonication–hydrothermal process could reduce the crystalline size of cellulose. Infrared spectroscopy analysis showed that a deletion of lignin and hemicellulose was demonstrated in the spectrum. Cellulose nanocrystal morphology showed a more compact structure and well-ordered surface arrangement than cellulose. Cellulose nanocrystals also had good thermal stability, as a high maximum degradation temperature was indicated, where CNC-D1 began degrading at temperatures (T₀) of 307.09 °C and decomposed (T_max) at 340.56 °C. Full article

Agro-industrial residue valorization under the umbrella of the circular bioeconomy (CBE) has prompted the search for further forward-thinking alternatives that encourage the mitigation of the industry’s environmental footprint. From this perspective, second-life valorization (viz., thermoplastic composites) has been explored for agro-industrial waste (viz., oil palm empty fruit bunch fibers, OPEFBFs) that has already been used previously in other circular applications (viz., the removal of domestic wastewater contaminants). Particularly, this ongoing study evaluated the performance of raw residues (R-OPEFBFs) within three different size ranges (250–425, 425–600, 600–800 µm) both before and after their utilization in biofiltration processes (as post-adsorbents, P-OPEFBFs) to reinforce a polymer matrix of acrylic resin. The research examined the changes in R-OPEFBF composition and morphology caused by microorganisms in the biofilters and their impact on the mechanical properties of the composites. Smaller R-OPEFBFs (250–425 µm) demonstrated superior mechanical performance. Additionally, the composites with P-OPEFBFs displayed significant enhancements in their mechanical properties (3.9–40.3%) compared to those with R-OPEFBFs. The combination of the three fiber sizes improved the mechanical behavior of the composites, indicating the potential for both R-OPEFBFs and P-OPEFBFs as reinforcement materials in composite applications. Full article

Lignocellulosic biomass (LCB), such as the oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFB), has emerged as one of the sustainable alternative renewable bioresources in retrieving valuable bioproducts, such as lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose. The natural recalcitrance of LCB by the disarray of lignin is overcome through the combinative application of organosolv pre-treatment followed by microwave irradiation, which helps to break down LCB into its respective components. This physicochemical treatment process was conducted to evaluate the effect of ethanol solvent, microwave power, and microwave duration against delignification and the total sugar yield. The highest delignification rate was achieved, and the optimum level of total sugars was obtained, with the smallest amount of lignin left in the OPEFB sample at 0.57% and total sugars at 87.8 mg/L, respectively. This was observed for the OPEFB samples pre-treated with 55 vol% of ethanol subjected to a reaction time of 90 min and a microwave power of 520 W. Microwave irradiation functions were used to increase the temperature of the ethanol organic solvent, which in turn helped to break the protective lignin layer of OPEFB. On the other hand, the surface morphology supported this finding, where OPEFB samples pre-treated with 55 vol% of solvent subjected to similar microwave duration and power were observed to have higher opened and deepened surface structures. Consequently, higher thermal degradation can lead to more lignin being removed in order to expose and extract the total sugars. Therefore, it can be concluded that organosolv pre-treatment in combination with microwave irradiation can serve as a novel integrated method to optimize the total sugar yield synthesized from OPEFB. Full article

Hydrogen has become a prospective energy carrier for a cleaner, more sustainable economy, offering carbon-free energy to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and address climate change challenges. However, hydrogen production faces significant technological and economic hurdles that must be overcome to reveal its highest potential. This study focused on evaluating the economics and technoeconomic resilience of two large-scale hydrogen production routes from African palm empty fruit bunches (EFB) by indirect gasification. Computer-aided process engineering (CAPE) assessed multiple scenarios to identify bottlenecks and optimize economic performance indicators like gross profits, including depreciation, after-tax profitability, payback period, and net present value. Resilience for each route was also assessed, considering raw material costs and the market price of hydrogen in relation to gross profits and after-tax profitability. Route 1 achieved a gross profit (DGP) of USD 47.12 million and a profit after taxes (PAT) of USD 28.74 million, while Route 2 achieved a DGP of USD 46.53 million and a PAT of USD 28.38 million. The results indicated that Route 2, involving hydrogen production through an indirect gasification reactor with a Selexol solvent unit for carbon dioxide removal, demonstrated greater resilience in terms of raw material costs and product selling price. Full article

Oil palm empty fruit bunch fibers (OPEFBF), in three size ranges (small: 250–450 µm, medium: 450–600 µm, large: 600–800 µm), were investigated as a filter-bed material in biofilters for the removal of organic matter and nutrients. After saturation, these fibers (post) were used in the removal of methylene blue through batch processes. The batch adsorption tests included optimizing the adsorbent dosage (0.5–32.0 g/L) and contact time (2.5–60.0 min). Experimental data were fitted to various kinetic/isotherm models. Instrumental characterization of both raw and post fibers was conducted. Post fibers underwent morphological/compositional changes due to the presence of microorganisms and their byproducts. Efficiencies reached up to 94% for chemical oxygen demand (COD), 88.4% for total nitrogen and 77.2% for total phosphorus. In batch adsorption, methylene blue removal exceeded 90%, underscoring the effectiveness of small raw OPEFBF and large post OPEFBF. Kinetic models indicated that raw OPEFBF better fit the pseudo-first-order model, while post OPEFBF better fit the pseudo-second-order model. Both types of OPEFBF showed a good fit with the Freundlich model (higher R², lower χ² and SSE). Particularly, large post OPEFBF stood out as the most efficient adsorbent, achieving a maximum adsorption capacity of 12.02 mg/g for methylene blue. Therefore, raw/post OPEFBF could be an alternative to remove contaminants from wastewater. Full article

Oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB), an abundant source of lignocellulosic biomass waste, is rich in hemicellulose and is converted into xylose for xylitol production. The remaining cellulose-rich residue can be efficiently hydrolyzed into glucose, which serves as a substrate for bioethanol and enzymes. This process aligns with an integrated biorefinery model aimed at optimizing the utilization of OPEFB. This study optimizes a two-stage enzymatic hydrolysis fermentation for OPEFB conversion into value-added products. Using a 4% NaOH pretreatment, lignin was degraded while preserving hemicellulose and cellulose. This hydrolysis yielded 12.27 g/L of xylose and 36.86 g/L of glucose. Ethanol production, using varied fermentation media, achieved maximum concentrations of 0.043 g/L for xylitol and 21.35 g/L for ethanol, with substrate-to-product yields of 0.005 g/g and 0.374 g/g, respectively. Furthermore, enzyme production by Aspergillus niger was assessed on multiple parameters, recording a peak cellulase activity of 55.16 ± 20.24 U/mL and enzyme weight of 42.748 kDa. The OPEFB substrate yielded the highest protein content of 0.00942 ± 0.00010 mg/mL. These findings demonstrate the feasibility and efficiency of the two-stage enzymatic hydrolysis strategy in facilitating integrated biorefinery processes for efficient and sustainable OPEFB utilization. Full article

This research aimed to investigate the biogas production and circular economy perspective in the palm oil industry through codigestion of oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) pressing wastewater and palm oil mill effluent (POME). The EFB pressing method constitutes an alternative new technology used to extract the remaining oil, increasing palm oil product; however, it produces highly polluted wastewater. Batch experiments were carried out at 35 °C to investigate the optimal ratios of EFB wastewater, inoculums, and POME. The optimal condition was 45% POME + 50% seed + 5% EFB wastewater. This condition was then used in semicontinuous fermentation where the optimal hydraulic retention time (HRT) totaled 25 days. The accumulated biogas was 18,679 mL/L while the accumulated methane totaled 6778 mL/L. The methane content was 62%, and the COD removal efficiency was 67%. The sludge produced from the HRT 25-days digester complied with the organic compost standard which could be further used to nourish the soil. An economic analysis of the EFB pressing project revealed a higher internal rate ratio with shorter payback compared with the conventional process. These results provide information on the circular economic approach to promote sustainable palm oil processing. Full article