Effect of process parameters on hydrothermal liquefaction of oil palm biomass for bio-oil production and its life cycle assessment

• Main Authors: Chan, Y.H., Yusup, S., Quitain, A.T., Tan, R.R., Sasaki, M., Lam, H.L., Uemura, Y.
• Format: Article
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 2015
• Online Access: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84946481718&doi=10.1016%2fj.enconman.2015.03.075&partnerID=40&md5=1cc57c5f54ad0df61ef5759aaa227b6e; http://eprints.utp.edu.my/31668/

This paper presents the studies on the effect of three process parameters; temperature, pressure and reaction time on the subcritical and supercritical hydrothermal liquefaction of oil palm empty fruit bunch, palm mesocarp fiber and palm kernel shell. The effect of temperature (330-390 °C), pressure (25-35 MPa) and reaction time (30-240 min) on bio-oil yields were investigated using a Inconel batch reactor. The optimum liquefaction condition for empty fruit bunch, palm mesocarp fiber and palm kernel shell was at supercritical condition of water; 390 °C and 25 MPa. For the effect of reaction time, bio-oil from empty fruit bunch and palm mesocarp fiber attained maximum yields at 120 min, whereas bio-oil yield from palm kernel shell continued to increase at reaction time of 240 min. Lastly, a life cycle assessment based on a conceptual biomass hydrothermal liquefaction process for bio-oil production was constructed and presented. © 2015 Elsevier Ltd.