Biorefining of Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunches (OPEFBs) into Biogas, Activated Carbon, and Organic Mulch: A Techno-Economic and Environmental Analysis
Wika Aprinia*, Wike Agustin Prima Dania, Sri Suhartini

Department of Agro-industrial Technology, Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang, 65145, Indonesia
Veteran Street Malang, Ketawanggede, Lowokwaru District, East Java, Indonesia
*wikaaprinia[at]gmail.com

Abstract

Indonesia as a tropical country is rich in biomass resources, such as oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFBs) from palm oil mills (POMs). Many studies have emphasized the valorization of OPEFB into high-value added products, including biogas, activated carbon, and organic mulch. This study aimed to conduct a techno-economic and environmental analysis to compare biorefining of biogas, activated carbon, and organic mulch from OPEFBs with the most profitable and minimum emissions. In this study, techno-economic analysis (TEA) was carried out to investigate the mass and energy balance, as well as net present value (NPV), internal rate of return (IRR), payback period, and benefit cost ratio (B/C Ratio). A life cycle assessment (LCA) was done for the environmental analysis using OpenLCA software with a cradle to gate approach. The TEA results showed that valorizing OPEFBs as co-production with one factory setting was more feasible than in mono-production system. LCA indicated that producing activated carbon from OPEFBs generated higher global warming potential (GWP) of 282.07 kg CO2-eq, while only 85.6 and 73.1 kg CO2-eq from production of organic mulch and biogas. The findings confirmed that valorizing OPEFBs may reduce carbon emission, however, in-depth study for practical implementation is suggested.

Keywords: Biorefinery- Global warming potential- Life cycle assessment- Oil palm empty fruit bunches- Techno-economic analysis

Topic: Waste and environmental management