Pengaruh Temperatur Dan Waktu Terhadap Slow Pyrolysis Pada Produksi Biochar Dengan Bahan Baku Tandan Kosong Kelapa Sawit

Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunches (OPEFB) are biomass residues with potential for utilization as a raw material for biochar production through slow pyrolysis. This study aimed to analyze the effects of slow pyrolysis temperature and holding time on the production and characteristics of OPEFB biochar and to determine the combination of temperature and holding time that produced the best biochar characteristics. The experiments were conducted using a pyrolysis reactor with 1.5 kg of raw material for each process. The pyrolysis temperatures were 400°C, 450°C, and 500°C, while the holding times were 60, 90, and 120 minutes, resulting in nine treatment combinations. The analyzed parameters included biochar yield, pH, mass loss, and bulk density. The results showed that increasing the pyrolysis temperature and holding time tended to decrease biochar yield and bulk density while increasing pH and mass loss. The biochar yield ranged from 31.8 to 39.8%, pH from 8.67 to 9.34, mass loss from 60.2 to 68.2%, and bulk density from 0.20 to 0.25 g/cm³. The highest yield of 39.8% was obtained at 400°C for 60 minutes. Meanwhile, the condition of 500°C for 120 minutes produced the highest pH of 9.34, the highest mass loss of 68.2%, and the lowest bulk density of 0.20 g/cm³, with a biochar yield of 31.8%. Based on the overall parameters analyzed, 500°C for 120 minutes was identified as the best condition in this study because it indicated a higher degree of thermal decomposition and carbonization. Therefore, slow pyrolysis temperature and holding time affect the production and characteristics of OPEFB biochar.