Optimalisasi Produksi Bio-Oil Melalui Co-Pirolisis Tandan Kosong Kelapa Sawit dan Asam Oleat Dengan Katalis Ni-Fe/Karbon Aktif

Abstract

The continuously increasing global energy demand and the limited fossil resources had driven the development of renewable energy, one of which was bio-oil from biomass pyrolysis. This study aimed to optimize bio-oil production through the co-pyrolysis of empty fruit bunches (EFB) and oleic acid using a Ni-Fe/activated carbon catalyst. EFB was chosen due to its abundance in Indonesia as a lignocellulosic waste, while oleic acid was used as a co-feeding agent to provide a synergistic effect in enhancing the quantity and quality of the bio-oil. The Ni-Fe/activated carbon catalyst was synthesized using the wet impregnation method and characterized using XRD, SEM, BET, and TGA. The characterization showed that the Ni-Fe/activated carbon catalyst had a surface area of 424,59 m²/g, a pore volume of 0,15 cc/g, and an average pore diameter of 3.87 nm. The catalyst was thermally stable within the temperature range of 150°C to 550°C. The co-pyrolysis process was carried out in a fixed bed reactor at 500°C for 1 hour, with catalyst mass variations of 0%, 2,5%, 5%, 7,5%, and 10% relative to the feed weight. The results showed that the use of Ni-Fe/activated carbon catalyst significantly increased the bio-oil yield, with the highest yield of 62,62% at a 5% catalyst concentration, compared to only 44,11% without a catalyst. GC-MS analysis indicated a reduction in oxygenated compounds and an increase in hydrocarbon compounds. In addition, the physicochemical parameters of the bio-oil, such as viscosity, density, and acid value, showed improvements toward the characteristics of conventional fuels. Thus, the co-pyrolysis of EFB and oleic acid using a Ni-Fe/activated carbon catalyst proved to be an effective and promising approach for converting biomass waste and fatty acids into sustainable biofuel.