GTO1-GREEN TECHNOLOGY AND SUSTAINABILITY

CuOlSiO CATALYTIC PYROLYSIS TECHNOLOGY OF EMPTY PALM FRUIT BUNCH (EFB) FOR THE PRODUCTION OF BIO-OIL
M. Alina Rahayu & M. D. Mohamed Zulkafli School of Bioprocess Engineering, Complex of Academics Jejawi(3), Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), Jalan Jejawi-Arau, 02600, Arau, Perlis, Malaysia. Abstract In the palm oil mill plantation, the processing of palm oil fresh fruit bunch (FFB) to produce crude palm oil (CPO) resulting in the production and accumulation of biomass such as empty fruit bunch (EFB). The accumulation of EFB has become environmental problem since its delayed utilization results in its bioconversion to methane that directly contributes to the greenhouse gas emission. This research focuses on utilizing EFB in catalytic pyrolysis technology using a tubular reactor. The reaction was carried out on treated EFB using copper oxide coated onto silica oxide (CuOISiO) catalysts. A series of CuOISiO catalysts calcined at 400, 500, 600, 700 and 800 "C for 17 hours was synthesized by wet impregnation technique. The result showed that the 700 "C CuOISiO calcined catalyst has produced 54% bio-oil, 32% char and 14% gas. Keywords: Pyrolysis, empty fruit bunch, copper oxide catalyst, wet impregnation.