title: Subcritical water liquefaction of oil palm fruit press fiber for the production of bio-oil: effect of catalysts.
abstract: Decomposition of oil palm fruit press fiber (FPF) to various liquid products in subcritical water was investigated using a high-pressure autoclave reactor with and without the presence of catalyst. When the reaction was carried in the absence of catalyst, the conversion of solid to liquid products increased from 54.9% at 483 K to 75.8% at 603 K. Simultaneously, the liquid yield increased from 28.8% to 39.1%. The liquid products were sub-categorized to bio-oil (benzene soluble, diethylether soluble, acetone soluble) and water soluble. When 10% ZnCl(2) was added, the conversion increased slightly but gaseous products increased significantly. However, when 10% Na(2)CO(3) and 10% NaOH were added independently, the solid conversion increased to almost 90%. In the presence of catalyst, the liquid products were mainly bio-oil compounds. Although solid conversion increased at higher reaction temperature, but the liquid yield did not increase at higher temperature.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Engineering Campus, Seri Ampangan, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mazaheri
authors.forename: Keat Teong
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Subhash
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bhatia
authors.forename: Abdul Rahman
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Mohamed
mesh_terms: D056804:Biofuels; D002254:Carbonates / Q000737:chemistry; D002384:Catalysis; D000073878:Palm Oil; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000737:chemistry*; D012972:Sodium Hydroxide / Q000737:chemistry; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D002254:Carbonates; D010938:Plant Oils; D014867:Water; C005686:sodium carbonate; D012972:Sodium Hydroxide; D000073878:Palm Oil