Hydrothermal Treatment of Empty Fruit Bunches to Enhance Fuel Characteristics

Hydrothermal pretreatment of biomass can improve fuel characteristics based on the decomposition properties subcritical water. Thus, this study used a hydrothermal treatment to empty fruit bunches (EFBs), which are generated as waste after palm oil extraction. The experimental reaction temperature was increased from 180 °C 250 at an interval 10 and mass ratios between dry sample water content were set 1:8 1:16 so that sufficiently immersed. Additionally, material EFB under conditions investigated using energy yields, elemental analysis, proximate thermogravimetric derivative thermogravimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis products. As increased, fixed carbon heating value because volatile matter, including oxygen, removed first, is similar coal. All analyses revealed exhibited little influence since samples immersed in it not necessary add more required for immersion EFB.