1.3.

2 Raw Material Analysis

Biomass is the term given for the remaining materials from plants or animals
such as wood from forests, the material remains of the farm as well as human and
animal organic waste. The energy contained in biomass comes from the Sun. Through
photosynthesis, the carbon dioxide in the air are transformed into other carbon
molecules (e.g. sugars and cellulose) in plants. The chemical energy stored in plants and
animals (caused by eating plants or other animals) or in the litter is known under the
name of bio-energy. When biomass is burned, energy will escape, generally in the form
of heat. The carbon in the biomass reacts with oxygen in the air forming carbon dioxide.
When burned, the amount of carbon dioxide perfect produced will equal the amount that
is absorbed from the air as the plants grow.
In the wild, the biomass left casually on the ground will break down in a long
time, releasing carbon dioxide and energy stored slowly. By burning biomass, the stored
energy will be quickly detached with and can be utilized. Therefore, the process of
converting biomass into useful energy mimicking natural processes with a faster pace.
Biomass can be used directly and can also be used for the production of liquid
biofuels (biodiesel and alcohol) or bio-fuel gas (biogas) which can be used as a
substitute for fossil fuels. For example, alcohol from Bagasse can be used as a substitute
for gas or biogas from animal waste can be used as a substitute for natural gas.
Electricity can also be generated from biomass sources so it can be marketed as green
power. Naturally biomass has a low specific gravity (when compared to fossil fuels,
biomass is needed in a much larger amount to produce the same amount of energy).
Therefore, transport and handling will be much more difficult and cost. These costs can
be reduced by placing the generator near the source of biomass such as sugar milling,
sawing, or pulp mill.
Though biomass energy source is the oldest known by human contribution to the
total energy consumption in indonesia even in the world was very young.Understanding
will limited resource back up fossil energy and care over the sustainability provision of
that energy causing the appearance of interest researcher against utilization of biomass
in the 1970s.But price of energy falling when it is causing technological development
biomass not so rapidly.Until in 1980 an concern on co2 emissions caused by energy use
fossil resulting in the issuance of kyoto protocol that limits co2 emissions may release
into the air.To accomplish a purpose kyoto protocol, proportion the use of renewable
energy to the total energy use continuously improved.Since then interest world against
utilization of biomass started to rise again
1.3.2.1 Primary Raw Material Analysis
1. Corn Cob
> Characteristic of Corn Cob
Corn cobs are one of potential agricultural biomass feedstocks for renewable
energy industries. Corn cobs can be used for producing heat, power, gas/liquid fuels,
and a wide variety of chemical products such as furfural, xylitol, activated carbon and
parafine. Properties corncobs have any carbon content is high.The result showed that to
dry 6 tons of corn from the water level 32,4% to 13,7% for seven hours it took about 30
dry corncobs/h. In the form of charcoal, the efficiency of energy use corn cobs can be
improved. The process of formation of charcoal (carbonization) using the basic
principles of the process of carbonation fast/fast pyrolysis, where is the combustion
process occurs at a temperature range of 150-600
o
C with air are very limited.

Figure x.x Corn Cob
Source: mekanisasi.litbang.deptan.go.id

Energy content of corn cobs: 3,500 to 4,500 kcal/kg or 14.7-18.9 MJ/kg, the
combustion temperature can reach 205oC While other references mention that with
carbonization corncob, its energy content can reach 32 MJ/kg. Thermal energy from the
combustion of biomass conversion technology is the oldest, and generate heat efficiency
is only around 12%. Direct heat utilization the most a lot of people do is to cooking or
drying by use of the furnace. If the generated heat is used to heat the boiler then it can
be used for generating electricity or mechanical power.
Waste corn can be used as a solid fuel to the process of thermal gassifikasi.To
the process gassifikasi, occurring incomplete combustion at a relatively high
temperature, which is about 900-1200
o
C. Process gassifikasi produce single product
such as gas with nilai calories 4000-5000 kJ/Nm
3
. Gas obtained can be used to produce
hot air, move the motor and can be used as a power plant. Energy conversion efficiency
of gasification heat by way of reaching 50-70%. The process of the formation of gas in
the system is a continuation of the process of pyrolysis in which reactions occur are:
C + CO
2
2 CO
C + H
2
O H
2
+CO
C + 2H
2
CH
4

In phase gas several other reactions additional can occur:
CO + H
2
O O
2
+ H
2

CO + 3H
2
CH
4
+H
2
O
> Composition of Corn Cob
The chemical properties and physical characteristics of corn cobs make for a
feedstock suitable for several methods of energy generation. A group of studies found
that corn cobs contain 32.3-45.6% cellulose, 36-39.8% hemicelluloses - mostly
composed of pentosan, and 6.0-13.9% lignin. Cellulose is a polysaccharide of glucose
units that serve as the main structural component of the cobs cell walls. Hemicellulose
is a less complex polysaccharide that can more easily be broken down to simpler
monosaccharides, simple sugars. Lignin is a complex, non-carbohydrate, structural
component which binds to cellulose and stiffens plant cell walls. The summary of corn
cob composition is shown below.



Table x.x Composition of corn cob

Source : Lorenz & Kulp, 1991
Current and experimental processes are available to convert the energy
contained in the corn cob molecular structure. Thermochemical conversion technologies
such as combustion and gasification can utilize the molecular structure of the cellulose,
hemicellulose, and lignin present in cobs to produce heat energy and or synthesis gas. In
direct combustion, corn cobs are completely combusted in an oxygen rich environment
to produce heat energy. Direct combustion heating processes could either be fueled
exclusively with corn cobs or co-fueled with crude oil. The benefits of using corn cobs
as a partial crude oil substitute include a potentially cleaner emissions stream and the
reduction of undesirable emissions and waste ash. The process of gasification uses high
temperatures and an oxygen deficient environment to create a lower energy producer
gas that can be used similarly to natural gas. Gasification allows for a more controlled
partial combustion process and reductions in undesired emissions when compared to
direct combustion.
Corn cobs also contain high carbon. Carbon used as a major component in
gasification. The summary of corn cob composition is shown below.
Table x.x Composition of corn cob
Component Composition (% weight)
C 43,70
H 5,21
O 42,50
N 0,19
Source: Laohalidanond K, Jurgen Heil, Christain Wirtgen, The Production of Synthetic Diesel from
Biomass, 2008
Corn cob have major component and minor component, both component will
explain below:
1. Mayor Component
a) Water Content
The water in corn cobs mostly unbound but a part is held as hydration water or
hydrate water. Wet corn cobs have a moisture content of around 9%, while the dried
corn cobs have a moisture content of approx 7%. Reduction water content on corncobs
usually do with diminution size and drying natural. This is important because water
content on corncobs can reduce cobustion efficiency.
b) Cellulose
cellulose content in corn cobis quite high which reached 42%. because of its
high cellulose, corn cob are also widely used as a raw material for bioethanol. the
process makes use of conversion of cellulose into sugars for later became bioethanol.
Thermochemical conversion technologies such as combustion and gasification
can utilize the molecular structure of the cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin present in
cobs to produce heat energy and or synthesis gas.
c) Carbon, oxygen and Hydrogen
Crude fiber (cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin) on a corncob is high, i.e. 38%,
41% and 6%. crude fiber content which indicates that the high carbon content in
corncob is quite high, so with the high content of carbon in the corn cobs corn cobs very
potential to serve as the adsorbent. one way to do is by way of making the corn cobs
into charcoal, with the heating at a temperature of 500 degrees Celsius.
In addition a compound of carbon and oxygen will form compounded
carbondioksida. The process of converting biomass to gas feed with the main content of
H
2
and CO
2
required for the synthesis of Fischer Tropsch process occurs inside reactor
gasification.
Gassifikasi biomass a reaction the conversion of thermal endothermic that
transforms fuel a solid into a flammable gases.Oxygen, the air; broiled, or combination
of those compounds of it in a finite number of can serve as oxidizing agent.The product
of gases consist over karbonmonoksida ( CO ), of carbon dioxide ( CO
2
), hydrogen ( H
2

), methane CH
4
, ), ( a little chain higher hydrocarbons ( ethene, ethane ), water, nitrogen
( if the use of air as an oxidant ), and various contaminants as particles charcoal, dust,
tar, a hydrocarbon chain tinggi, alkali, of ammonia, an acid, and those compounds of the
like.

2. Minor Component
a) Ash
in general the results of combustion corn cobs will produce a low amount of ash
which is about 1.5% of the weight. The levels of ash are produced depending on the
type of corn. combustion results for most of the ash contains silica which can be
isolated for further use. The summary of ash content in corn cob is shown below.
Table x.x Ash Content in Corn Cob
Content %
Silica 74,56
P
2
O
5
4,94
CaO 3,83
MgO 4,88
K
2
O 3,97
Na
2
O 4,24
Fe
2
O
3
3,58
Source: Laboratorium Sucofindo, 2013

b) Pectin
the amount of pectin on the cob of corn about 3%. Pectin is a component
moisture on corncobs so that the drying also meant to deprive of compounds pectin
corn cob. At the other side pectin in plants widely used as adhesive material or can be
used as an adsorbent heavy metal.

c) Nitrogen
The nitrogen content of the dried corn cob is very low which is about 0,19%
weight. Usually this corncob waste with other waste collected so that the content of
nitrogennya is increased and can be used as animal feed.

2. Biomass Enchancer Material
In addition to using corn cobs as a main ingredient in the process of gasification,
biogas requires a lot of supply of CO
2
, Nitrogen and Oksegen so that the need to look
for other materials. supplementary material must contain CO
2
, Nitrogen and oxygen is
high so that it can be used as raw material for the process of gasification. Based on the
research, there are two ingredients that can improve CO
2
, Nitrogen and oxygen in the
process of gasification. The material is a by-product of Bagasse and rice straw.
a) Empty Fruits Bunch
Crude palm oil production is reaching 48.99 million metric tonnes per year
globally in 2011 and Southeast Asia is the main contributor, with Indonesia accounting
for 48.79%, Malaysia 36.75%, and Thailand 2.96% (Palm Oil Refiners Association of
Malaysia, 2011). Oil palm is a multi-purpose plantation and it is also an intensive
producer of biomass. Accompanying the production of one kg of palm oil,
approximately 4 kg of dry biomass are produced. One third of the oil palm biomass is
oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) and the other two thirds are oil palm trunks and
fronds.
Among the oil palm biomass, OPEFB is the most often investigated biomass for
biofuel production. Traditionally, OPEFB is used for power and steam utilization in the
palm oil mills, and is used for composting and soil mulch. Direct burning of OPEFB
causes environmental problems due the incomplete combustion and the release of very
fine particles of ash.
Table x.x Properties Empty Fruits Bunch
Literature
values %
(w/w)
Measured
% (w/w)
Method
Components
Cellulose 59.7 Na na
Hemicellulose 22.1 Na na
Lignin 18.1 Na na
Proximate Analysis
Moisture na 7.95 ASTM E871
Volatiles 75.7 83.86 ASTM E872
Ash 4.3 5.36 NREL LAP005
Fixed Carbon 17 10.78 By difference
HHV (MJ/kg) 19.0 19.35 Bomb calorimeter
LHV (MJ/kg) 17.2 Na na

A palm oil plantation yields huge amount of biomass wastes in the form of empty
fruit bunches (EFB), palm oil mill effluent (POME) and palm kernel shell (PKS). In a
typical palm oil mill, empty fruit bunches are available in abundance as fibrous material
of purely biological origin. EFB contains neither chemical nor mineral additives, and
depending on proper handling operations at the mill, it is free from foreign elements
such as gravel, nails, wood residues, waste etc. However, it is saturated with water due
to the biological growth combined with the steam sterilization at the mill. Since the
moisture content in EFB is around 67%, pre-processing is necessary before EFB can be
considered as a good fuel.
Unprocessed EFB is available as very wet whole empty fruit bunches each
weighing several kilograms while processed EFB is a fibrous material with fiber length
of 10-20 cm and reduced moisture content of 30-50%. Additional processing steps can
reduce fiber length to around 5 cm and the material can also be processed into bales,
pellets or pulverized form after drying.
Pre-treatment steps such as shredding/chipping and dewatering (screw pressing or
drying) are necessary in order to improve the fuel property of EFB. Pre-processing of
EFB will greatly improve its handling properties and reduce the transportation cost to
the end user i.e. power plant. Under such scenario, kernel shells and mesocarp fibres
which are currently utilized for providing heat for mills can be relieved for other uses
off-site with higher economic returns for palm oil millers.
There is a large potential of transforming EFB into renewable energy resource that
could meet the existing energy demand of palm oil mills or other industries. Based on
Table and Table, EFB has enough composition to be a renewable source of power
generation. It halso has heating value of 15.5 MJ/kg in dry basis and 25% energy
conversion. If a palm oil mill processing 200,000 ton/year fresh fruit bunches (i.e.
producing 40,000 ton/year CPO) could supply a power plant with 44,000 ton/year fresh
EFB. This amount of EFB is equivalent to generating electric capacity of 1.9 Mwe. It is
a big chance for use EFB for power generation since Indonesia has big potential of it.
b) Bagasse
examples of biomass that can be used as an alternative energy source is the by-
product of Bagasse. The existence of biomass Bagasse pulp in Indonesia in such
abundance, but not yet fully terolah. In General, the sugar factory in Indonesia makes
use of the Bagasse by-product as fuel for the plant in question, after the Bagasse by-
product drying experience. However there are other ways in utilizing the by-product of
Bagasse and then given special treatment so that it can generate combustible gas. The
treatment is expected to formerly Bagasse pulp potential can only be exploited its
energy directly from the combustion process, can be applied to a wide range of other
needs.
Bagasse obtainable from the rest of the process of making Bagasse crop, which
was planted crop and harvested according to the season. Bagasse pulp is a commodity
that has been available for use, in 1992 as much as 610 million tons of Bagasse pulp is
produced all over the world. Dregs of Bagasse is used to produce electrical energy,
ethanol, food animals, the production of paper, and building materials.

At present there is an increasing trend of research into the possibility to convert
biomass such as Bagasse dregs into other forms of energy that can be used. Bagasse
pulp is basically a fibrous waste from Bagasse that are experiencing the process of
extraction and crystallization into sugars. The fraction obtained from cane dregs of raw
cane sugar that was destroyed was about 20%-30%. Previously, bagasse is burned as a
means of solid waste disposal. However, because the cost of fuel oil, natural gas and
electricity increased after the energy crisis in the 1970s, the special attention given to
alternative fuels. As a result, the concept of burning Bagasse pulp changed and became
one of the solutions to overcome the energy crisis, namely by using the dregs of
Bagasse as fuel, especially for electric power plant to increase the contribution to the
energy supply of the countr
The physical characteristics of Bagasse
The physical characteristics of Bagasse is as follows:
1. Have the colors white and light green
2. Odorless
3. Type the specific weight is 250 kg/m
3

4. Main content consists of 45% cellulose, 50% moisture
5. Energy content of 19,400 Kj/Kg of dried cane dregs (ash)
The Chemical characteristics of Bagasse
To be used as boiler fuel, then the content of Bagasse pulp in water vapor should not be
more than 50%. Coir (fibre) content in sugarcane in General about 12-15%, so that the
content of dregs in Bagasse Bagasse about 24-30% weight of the cane. Chemical
composition of dried cane dregs vary, the average composition of the standard results of
the calculations that include ingredients:
Table x.x Compound content of Bagasse
Component %
C 49
H 6,5
O 42,7
N 0,2
S 0,1
Ash 1,5
Source : Bode Haryanto, USU Digital Library

The calorie value gross (Gross Calorific Value/GCV) of baggase in dry ash is 19400
KJ/Kg, the bagasse has a moisture content of 50% have GCV of 9,600 KJ/Kg and the
value of net calorie (Nett Calorie Value/NCV) of 7.600 KJ/Kg. GCV is also known as
the highest heat value (Higher Heat Value/HHV) and NCV is the lowest heat value
(Lower Heat Value/LHV). At this writing the dregs of sugar cane used as fuel for
biomass power plant using gasification.

c) Rice Husk and Rice Straw
Rice straw briquettes can be used as fuel. The value of rice straw content
combined with waste castor bean and rice husks can reach 5500 kcal/kg of soybean skin
plus not to mention that can be used as briquette. Rice straw briquettes could certainly
be an alternative fuel for people in rural areas to save on the cost of fuel from oil or gas.
Because the rice straw briquette cleaner and do not contain toxins like coal briquettes
his thing which produces nitric oxide gas (NOx) and sulfur oxides (SOx). In addition to
rice straw used as a place of culture volvariella volvacea can also serve as a forage mix
because the protein content is quite adequate.
Another benefit of rice straw is as producing bio-ethanol or hydrogen gas.By
using reaction hydrolysis on rice straw will obtain ethanol for fuel a steamroller and
vehicles.And if need gas for power generation and gassifikasi the process of rice straw
capable of producing hydrogen gas turbine to ignite electricity.Results gassifikasi rice
straw in form of powder ashes be used as a briquette a mixture or fertilizer organic.
Chemical characteristics of several types of biomass can be seen in the table below.
Table xx chemical characteristics analysis of data on various types of biomass





Source: Laohalidanond K, Jurgen Heil, Christain Wirtgen, The Production of Synthetic Diesel
from Biomass, 2008

3. The Availability of biomass in indonesia
Biomass in Indonesia is mainly derived from forest waste, waste, waste and
agricultural town. One of the biomass that is not too much of its utility is a COB of
corn. From the production of a total of 16 million tonnes of corn, in a plantation area of
4 million hectares of corn cobs biomass waste generated as much as half a ton per
hectare, or about 4 million tons. In addition many more sewage farms and plantations
which are potentially to be used as raw material for the process of gasificasion. Details
of the potential of biomass in indonesia can be seen in the table below
Table xx Potential of Biomass in Indonesia
No Commodities Production
(Tons)
Land area
(ha)
Types of
waste
biomass
produced
Production
of waste
biomass
(tons/year)
The largest
production
location
1 Corn 16,317,251 4,001,724 Corn Cob 4,001,724 Central Java,
East Java,
lampung
2 Cane 261,800,000 395,399,44 Bagasse 39,539,994 East Java,
lampung
3 Rice 60,325,925 12,327,425 Rice
Straw and
Rice
Husk
21,114,074 Java Island
4 Palm Oil 18,089,504 7,007,876 Empty
Fruits
Bunch
3,9797,691 Sumatra
Source: Laohalidanond K, Jurgen Heil, Christain Wirtgen, The Production of Synthetic Diesel
from Biomass, 2008

Those materials have some parameter in comparison to further selection. Table
below is shown each criteria of biomass enhacher an it score.




Table xx Scooring Table
Biomass
Echancer
Content
Availability
(ton)
Pre
treatment
Material
Status
Other requirement
H C O
Pulp Cane
& Bagasse 8,14 62,9 60,71 39,539,994
Crushing &
Drying
Waste
Product
Sugar industrial using
cane as raw material and
bagasse as its waste
Rice Husk 4,59 39,1 34,7 10,096,968
Crushing &
Drying
Waste
Product
Availability depanding
on the rice harvest
rice Straw 5,02 38,2 35,28 11,017,106
Crushing &
Drying
Waste
Product
Availability depanding
on the rice harvest
Empty
Fruits
Bunch
1,51 15,11 19,13 3,9797,691
Crushing &
Drying
Waste
Product
Many Industrial used
empty fruits bunch as a
raw material.
Source: Laohalidanond K, Jurgen Heil, Christain Wirtgen, The Production of Synthetic Diesel
from Biomass, 2008

Criteria biomass enhancer in each parameter has its own rank based the best
criteria. As it delive to score for choosing the best material based on the highest score.

Table xx Scoring Biomass Enchancer
Biomass
Enchancer
H,C & O
Content
Availabilit
y
Pre
treatment
Material
status
Other
requirement
Total
Score
Weight 25% 25% 20% 20% 10%
Pulp Cane &
Bagasse
5 4 3 3 4 3,85
Rice Husk 4 3 3 3 3 3,25
Empty Fruits
Bunch
4 3 3 3 3 3,25
Rice Straw 4 4 3 3 3 3,5
Source: privat document
Results from scooring retrived enhancer biomass material is bagasse. Bagasse is
select because have H, C &O content is better than rice husk and rice straw. Besides the
amout available at most and stable because of rice husk dan rice straw Availability
depanding on the rice harvest.