Abstract

In this study, co-gasification of different types of pretreatments on palm kernel shell (PKS) and low-rank Mukah Balingian (MB) coal was carried out in a fixed bed reactor. First pretreatment involved torrefaction of PKS at 270oC and preheating of MB coal at 250oC for 1hr. For second pretreatment, both samples were irradiated using microwave oven at 450W for 8min. The effect of various blending combinations of both pretreated samples were investigated towards product yields (gas, tar and char) and composition (gas and tar). Results showed that, all pretreated blended samples produced higher gas yield and lower tar and char yield than the untreated blended samples. This was due to low moisture and oxygenated compounds of the pre-treated samples prior to gasification. Torrefied PKS and preheated MB blending produced the highest gas yield and lowest tar yield. Moreover, the torrefied PKS and preheated MB blending was the best combination which produced the highest H2 + CO and the lowest CH4 and CO2 composition. Tar composition of the pre-treated blending samples indicated the obvious reduction of phenol and carbonyl; however, promoted the aromatic and aliphatic alkane. This existence affected from the decomposition of cellulose and hemi-cellulose and partial decomposition of lignin throughout the pretreatment stage. In addition, the pre-treatment types seemed to have significance impact on the distribution and composition of product yields during co-gasification..

Keywords: Palm kernel shell; Mukah Balingian; Low rank coal; Pretreatment; Co-gasification