FORMULASI DAN KARAKTERISASI BIOPELET DARI TKKS DAN OIL SLUDGE : PENGARUH PENAMBAHAN EMULSIFIER PROPILEN GLIKOL

Abstract

Biomass by-products from the palm oil industry, such as empty palm fruit bunches (EPFB) and oil sludge, have great potential to be used as raw materials in the manufacture of biopellets, which are an environmentally friendly fuel alternative. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of varying amounts of oil sludge and propylene glycol as emulsifiers on the quality of TKKS-based biopellets using SNI 8675:2018 as the quality standard to obtain optimal results. This study evaluated the effect of emulsifier variations (0%, 1%, 3%, 5%, 7%) on biopellet quality, in accordance with the SNI 8675:2018 standard. The research methodology included the preparation of TKKS and oil sludge, pelletization, proximate analysis, calorific value, and density. The results showed that optimal biopellets were obtained from a 7% emulsifier variation. These biopellets had a moisture content of 14.54%, ash content of 7.41%, volatile matter content of 60.22%, fixed carbon content of 17.83%, a calorific value of 19.02 MJ/kg, and a density of 0.87 g/cm3, where all parameters except moisture content and ash content met the criteria set in SNI 8675:2018. This study proves that the addition of emulsifier affects the characteristics of biopellets.