Characterization of Cassava Stems as Potential Biomass for Bio-Oil Production via Electromagnetic-Assisted Catalytic Liquefaction

ABSTRACTThe production of bio-oil from biomass as renewable sources has been trusted as a suitable alternative in supplying future energy needs. Present in abundance amounts as crop residues cassava stems is potential biomass tobe utilized. As raw material, it has advantages such as fast and easy growth, minimal maintenance and utilizing plantation land without competing with food supply. The biomass characterization results showed that cassava stems containing cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin, respectively 40.16, 25.66 and 16.65% w/w. Cassava stems has low ash content and high of volatile matter with high carbon and low nitrogen.The HHV of cassava stems was19.08 MJ/kg.Physical propertiesby GC-MS tests of bio-oil produced via electromagnetic-assisted catalytic liquefaction(EA-CL)revealedthat the dominant content of chemicals were 5-methyl furfural,2-furancarboxaldehyde and acetic acid.The bio-oil density ranged from 0.979 to 0.984 g/mL and has a pH of 2.8. This result shows that cassava stemis appropriate biomass for further bio-oil production feedstock.Bio-oil using EA-CL process meets bio-oil standards.Keywords:Liquefaction, Biomass, Biooil, GC-MS