Assessment of biofuel potential of tenera palm kernel shell via fixed bed pyrolysis and thermal characterization

In oil palm mills, the slow rate of biodegradation of tenera palm kernel shells leaves a sizable deposit. However, these large mass deposits are potential materials that can be investigated for energy purposes as a suitable alternative due to the limited availability and negative impacts of fossil fuels.Standard methods were used in this study to analyze all major energy related physicochemical properties.Tenera palm kernel shell has moderate moisture content (9.8%), high carbon content (48.63%), low amounts of sulfur (0.48%), nitrogen (0.43%) and ash content (7.6%). The analysis gave volatile matter (75.8%), fixed carbon (6.8%), and a higher heating value of 17.2 MJ/kg. XRD data gave a crystallinity index of 28.29 %, which indicated the presence of low crystalline cellulose. Elemental composition of ash obtained by XRF were used to calculate its sintering, slagging and fouling indices. It has ash deposition tendencies based on calculated slagging-fouling indices. Its FTIR analysis showed the presence of complex compounds. Fixed bed pyrolysis achieved max. biochar, bio-oil, and gas at 350 °C, 550 °C, and 650 °C, respectively. TGA was done at a constant heating rate of 10 °C/min, and the Coats–Redfern method was used to obtain Activation Energy (Ea) value between 41.77–91.83 KJ/mol.Overall, physicochemical parameters indicate that it might be a promising alternative for fossil fuels. Co-firing it with other biomass or coal can help to reduce slagging and fouling. The formation of dioxin and furan is unlikely because its XRF result contains no chlorine and a significant amount of SO3. It has significant thermal deterioration at a low Ea of 41.77 KJ/mol. This type of PKS is recommended for industrial and domestic energy generation via pyrolysis/gasification, and the results are useful for designing efficient thermal reactors for its conversion.