Resumen
- Empty fruit bunches (EFB), fiber, and shell are the main solid residues produced during extraction of oil from oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.). Thermogravimetric (TG) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) analyses of these materials were carried out on samples as received and after solvent extraction. Presence of extractives and ash had a strong effect on the thermal behavior of EFB. Observed thermal degradation behavior was described using two analytical approaches. The first one considers that biomass thermal degradation occurs in three consecutive steps. Three independent reaction models were used as second approach. The shapes of TG and DSC curves were used to identify the degradation steps. The thermal degradation activation energy (E) and pre-exponential factor (A) obtained by both approaches were very similar.