title: An Experimental Study of Briquetting Process of Torrefied Rubber Seed Kernel and Palm Oil Shell.
abstract: Torrefaction process of biomass material is essential in converting them into biofuel with improved calorific value and physical strength. However, the production of torrefied biomass is loose, powdery, and nonuniform. One method of upgrading this material to improve their handling and combustion properties is by densification into briquettes of higher density than the original bulk density of the material. The effects of critical parameters of briquetting process that includes the type of biomass material used for torrefaction and briquetting, densification temperature, and composition of binder for torrefied biomass are studied and characterized. Starch is used as a binder in the study. The results showed that the briquette of torrefied rubber seed kernel (RSK) is better than torrefied palm oil shell (POS) in both calorific value and compressive strength. The best quality of briquettes is yielded from torrefied RSK at the ambient temperature of briquetting process with the composition of 60% water and 5% binder. The maximum compressive load for the briquettes of torrefied RSK is 141 N and the calorific value is 16 MJ/kg. Based on the economic evaluation analysis, the return of investment (ROI) for the mass production of both RSK and POS briquettes is estimated in 2-year period and the annual profit after payback was approximately 107,428.6 USD.
authors.affiliation: School of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Engineering Campus, Seri Ampangan, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia.
authors.forename: M Fadzli
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Hamid
authors.affiliation: School of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Engineering Campus, Seri Ampangan, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia.
authors.forename: M Yusof
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Idroas
authors.affiliation: School of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Engineering Campus, Seri Ampangan, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia.
authors.forename: M Zulfikar
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Ishak
authors.affiliation: School of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Engineering Campus, Seri Ampangan, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Z Alimuddin
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Zainal Alauddin
authors.affiliation: Science and Engineering Research Centre, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Engineering Campus, Seri Ampangan, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia.
authors.forename: M Azman
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Miskam
authors.affiliation: School of Materials and Mineral Resources Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Engineering Campus, Seri Ampangan, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia.
authors.forename: M Khalil
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Abdullah
mesh_terms: D056804:Biofuels; D018533:Biomass; D019245:Compressive Strength; D005224:Fats, Unsaturated / Q000737:chemistry*; D000073878:Palm Oil; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000737:chemistry*; D013696:Temperature; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D005224:Fats, Unsaturated; D010938:Plant Oils; C027814:rubber seed oil; D014867:Water; D000073878:Palm Oil