Characterisation of residual char from biomass co-gasification.

In this study, char analysis was carried out, produced during the co-gasification process of empty fruit bunch pellet (EFBP) and oil palm shell (OPS). The analysis aims to characterise char samples with three different fuel compositions of 100% EFBP, 75% EFBP; 25% OPS and 50% EFBP; 50% OPS. Two analysis was carried out, namely physical analysis and chemical analysis, using a bomb calorimeter, moisture analyser and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. In general, it was found that the moisture content and calorific value increase with a higher amount of oil palm shell (OPS) in the fuel mixture. The calorific value ranged from 2.703 MJ/kg to 6.001 MJ/kg, while the moisture content ranged from 20.55% to 9.65%. The energy content in the char is relatively high based on the energy value. Therefore, it was found that the 6.001 MJ/kg calorific value char sample is suitable for use as gasification fuel. For the moisture, the char sample that mixed from 50% EFB pellet and 50% OPS had the lowest moisture content value. This value proves that this char sample is suitable for gasification fuel with its low moisture content. The FTIR analysis found that the char contains alcohol, alkane, alkene, carbonyl and aromatic chemical functional groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]