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Valorization of Palm-Oil Residues: Integrated Production of a Good Quality Bio-coal and Electricity via Torrefaction

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Abstract

Energy valorization of empty fruit bunches (EFB), via torrefaction, was investigated to stablish the best process conditions and the energy balance of an integrated plant. Differential scanning calorimetry was used, for the first time, as a new and more accurate method to determine the heat involved in the torrefaction process. This technique showed that the torrefaction of EFB is an endothermal process. A new response variable energy gain (EG) was introduced as an alternative to the customarily used variable energy yield (EY). EG was definitely a better response variable because it makes a compromise between a high mass yield and a high heating values of the solid product. On the contrary, EY has a very strong and direct (lineal) correlation with the mass yield that overshadows the effect of the heating value. Results show that torrefaction is a promising technology for the sustainable valorization of EFB because it solves the disposal problem and gives a solid and renewable biofuel that can replace coal. Besides, an important amount of electricity can be co-produced. Energy balances showed that energy self-sufficiency can be achieved by tuning the torrefaction conditions as to obtain a gaseous by-product that is used as fuel to provide the energy required in the drying and torrefaction stages. Processing 100 ton/day of EFB (dry basis), at 300 °C and 60 min, produces 37 ton/day of bio-coal (similar to sub-bituminous coal) and 0.36 MW electricity that can be exported because the process is energy self- sufficient.

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Abbreviations

EFB:

Oil palm empty fruit bunches

KS:

Kernel shell

MF:

Mesocarp fiber

FFB:

Oil palm fresh fruit bunches

MY:

Mass yield

EY:

Energy yield

EG:

Energy gain

Fe:

Free of extractives

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the financial support provided by “Departamento Administrativo de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación-Colciencias”, “Patrimonio Autónomo Fondo Nacional de Financiamiento para la Ciencia, la Tecnología y la Innovación, Francisco José de Caldas”, “Cementos Argos S.A.” and “Comité para el Desarrollo de la Investigación-CODI, Universidad de Antioquia”.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Grupo Procesos Químicos Industriales, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de Antioquia UdeA, calle 70 #52-21, Medellín, Colombia

    Luis Javier Gallego, Sandra Cardona & Luis Alberto Rios

  2. Cementos Argos S.A., calle 7d #43a-99, Medellín, Colombia

    Edgar Martínez

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  1. Luis Javier Gallego
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  2. Sandra Cardona
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LJG, SC, EM, LAR contributed equally in both the experiments and writing of this manuscript.

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Correspondence to Luis Alberto Rios.

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Gallego, L.J., Cardona, S., Martínez, E. et al. Valorization of Palm-Oil Residues: Integrated Production of a Good Quality Bio-coal and Electricity via Torrefaction. Waste Biomass Valor 11, 2273–2284 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-018-0459-7

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