Oil Palm Frond Oxydative Slow Pyrolysis Process: A Modelling Study Using Aspen Plus
Arif Rahman Saleh (a*), Bambang Sudarmanta (b), Sigit Mujiarto (a), Ali Murtopo (c)
a) Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Tidar, Magelang, Indonesia
*arifrahmansaleh[at]untidar.ac.id
b) Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember, Surabaya, Indonesia
c) Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Tidar, Magelang, Indonesia
Abstract
The main product of the slow pyrolysis process was char, while the additional products were volatile gas and bio-oil. Ideally, the pyrolysis process occurs in an inert condition or without air. in case there was air, the char will be oxidized and produce CO and CO2. In this study, the air addition with the amount under the stoichiometric was carried out in the slow pyrolysis process of oil palm frond. The influence on the distribution of pyrolysis products in the form of char, volatile-gas, and bio-oil was analyzed using the Aspen Plus model. Pyrolysis temperatures vary from 300 - 600oC with a heating rate of 10oC / minute. The modeling results show an increase in the volumetric percentage of CO and a decrease in the percentage of char because that was consumed by a partial oxidation reaction. in case the amount of air continues to be increased, the percentage of CO decreases and CO2 increases. The results of the study can be used as a reference to optimize the slow pyrolysis process when the increase of volatile gases was desired.
Keywords: oil palm frond;slow pyrolysis;oxydative pyrolysis;aspen plus
Topic: Mechanical Engineering