Yeni Ria Wulandari, Vinda Avri Sukma, Didik Supriadi, Aulia Annas Mufti, Yeni Variyana, Fadian Farisan Silmi, Adityas Agung Ramandani, Sudibyo Sudibyo, Ho Shing Wu
Empty oil palm bunches, a byproduct of the palm oil industry, are typically returned to plantations as mulch but represent a valuable renewable energy source. Through pyrolysis, these biomass residues can be converted into useful chemicals and energy. Before pyrolysis, the raw materials were characterized using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX). Pyrolysis experiments were conducted on samples of 30, 60, and 80 mesh at temperatures of 350 °C, 450 °C, and 550 °C. TGA revealed a significant degradation peak at 301 °C, with kinetic analysis indicating a first-order reaction. Mineral analysis identified potassium as dominant, and SEM-EDX revealed a porous, fibrous structure in the bunches and the mineral with the highest content is potassium. The highest liquid yield of 38.76%, was achieved from the 80-mesh sample at 350 °C. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of the liquid fraction identified Vinyl methyl ether as the predominant compound, accounting for 96.81% of the composition. © 2025, Budapest University of Technology and Economics. All rights reserved.
Department of Industrial Chemical Engineering Technology, Politeknik Negeri Lampung, Jl. Soekarno-Hatta 10, Rajabasa, Bandar Lampung, 35144, Indonesia; Department of Environmental Engineering, Indonesia University, Pondok Cina, West Java, Depok City, 16424, Indonesia; Department of Chemical Engineering, Institute Teknologi Sumatera, Jl. Terusan Ryacudu, Way Huwi, Lampung, 35365, Indonesia; Department of Environmental Engineering, Institute Teknologi Sumatera, Jl. Terusan Ryacudu, Way Huwi, Lampung, 35365, Indonesia; Research Unit for Mineral Technology, Indonesia Institute of Sciences, Jl. Ir Sutami Km. 15, Tanjung Bintang, Lampung, 35361, Indonesia; Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Yuan Ze University, Yuan-Tung Road 135 Chung-Li, 32003, Taiwan