A Comparative Study On The Heat Release During The Combustion Of Coal And Oil Palm Biomass Charcoal Briquette Via Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA)

Abstract

The world is seriously searching for an alternative to fossil fuels due to their tremendous environmental effect. However, renewable  energy sources such as solar, wind, hydropower, and biomass were anticipated to be alternative energies.  In this study, the amount of  heat generated from the combustion of coal and charcoal briquettes derived from oil palm biomass was investigated and compared.  Charcoal briquettes were made from the biochar obtained after the pyrolysis of empty fruit bunches (EFB) and mesocarp fibre (MF). Coal  and charcoal briquettes were subjected to combustion via thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) at a 10oC min-1 heating rate to a maximum  temperature of 850oC. The ignition and burnout temperatures were 235oC and 675oC for EFB, 254oC and 788oC for MF, and 368oC and  770oC for coal. The maximum heat released 0.06 W was obtained from EFB charcoal briquette followed by 0.05 W and 0.04 W from coal  and MF charcoal briquette, respectively. This finding indicated that charcoal briquettes derived from oil palm biomass (EFB) could be one  of the potential solid fuels that can be used for coal replacement.