PRODUCTION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF OIL PALM BIOMASS WASTE BIOCHAR

Abstract

The production of palm oil generates biomass residue from plantation and mill sites. This biomass residue can be classi-fied into six types: oil palm fronds (OF) and oil palm trunks (OT) produced at plantation site, oil palm empty fruit bunches (OEFB), palm kernel shells (PKS), mesocarp fibre (MF) and palm oil mill effluent (POME) produced at mill sites. Since the large amount of biomass residue is generated ammually, Andhra Pradesh has the potential to utilize the biomass residue efficiently and effectively to other valued products. In this study, oil palm biomass waste viz., OF, OT and OEFB were used as a feedstock to prepare biochar using convetional pyrolysis process. Pyrolysis temperature and time are known to have profound influence on biochar yield. The optimum parameters of pyrolysis for preparation of biochar from the oil palm biomass waste are not known. In order to standardize the methodology of biochar production, they were subjected to different temperatures and holding time. The optimized conditions for complete charring of OF Biomass, OT Biomass and OEFB Biomass were 500 0C temperature and holding time of 60, 60 and 90 minutes, with yield recovery of 35.5%, 34.0% and 32.0%, respectively. Total organic carbon (TOC) content in OF, OT and OEFB biomass was 43%, 40% and 42%, respectively, while it was 68%, 57% and 67%, in corresponding biochars. Among the oil palm biomass wastes, OEFB biomass and biochar recorded maximum 2.88 and 6.07 % potassium content, respectively. The pH of oil palm biochars ranged from 6.55-9.97 neutral to alkaline nature indicating the effective liming potentiality for acidic soil management. OF, OT and OEFB biochars with CEC 12.82, 11.12 and 10.24 C mol (P+) kg-1 . have the nutrient retention capacity and thereby can have the potential to reduce the leaching losses in light textured soils.