Characterization of palm pyrolysis oil produced from fresh palm fruit bunches with a modified downdraft biomass gasifier and burner as heat source

Abstract

Thailand relies heavily on crude oil imports, emphasizing the need for alternative, locally sourced energy solutions. This study highlights pyrolysis as a cost-effective method for converting biomass into energy and producing three primary outputs: pyrolysis oil, pyrolysis gas, and biochar. Fresh palm fruit bunches (FFB) from the Tenera strain were investigated as a feedstock for pyrolysis using a modified downdraft biomass gasifier and burner as heat sources. The FFB underwent size reduction to ensure a diameter of no more than 20 mm before pyrolysis. A 120-liter batch pyrolyzer was designed to maximize thermal efficiency and product yield. Key parameters, including pyrolysis temperatures of 400, 500, and 600 °C, were systematically analyzed. The highest yield of pyrolysis oil (24.66 %) was obtained at 400 °C, with chemical analysis identifying compounds such as naphthalene, heptadecanol, phenol, and methyl palmitate. Environmental evaluations showed significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, with 5.37 kg-CO₂/kg-PPO less than LPG and 8.44 kg-CO₂/kg-PPO less than electricity. This study demonstrates the feasibility of utilizing FFB for biofuel production and presents a sustainable framework for addressing energy demands in Thailand.