Characterization of Biochar Produced From Oil Palm Fronds Using  The Pyrolysis Method

Dana Restu Farista; Siti Aisyah

doi:10.61255/vokatek.v4i1.1382

Authors

Dana Restu Farista Institut Teknologi Sawit Indonesia
Siti Aisyah Insitut Teknologi Sawit Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.61255/vokatek.v4i1.1382

Keywords:

Biochar, Biomass Waste, CHNS/O analysis, Oil palm Fronds, Pyrolysis

Abstract

Oil palm fronds are one of the solid wastes generated in large quantities from oil palm plantation activities. The increasing area of oil palm plantations has led to a higher production of biomass waste, including oil palm fronds, which are still not utilized optimally. One alternative utilization is converting oil palm fronds into biochar through the pyrolysis process. This study aims to characterize biochar produced from oil palm fronds using a retort pyrolysis method and determine its elemental composition through CHNS/O analysis. The research was conducted using a retort pyrolysis method at temperatures ranging from 350°C to 400°C. The resulting biochar was analyzed using a CHNS/O Elemental Analyzer to determine the contents of carbon (C), hydrogen (H), oxygen (O), nitrogen (N), and sulfur (S). The data obtained were analyzed descriptively to characterize the elemental composition of the produced biochar. The CHNS/O analysis showed that the biochar contained 71.85% carbon, 3.75% hydrogen, 21.93% oxygen, 1.68% nitrogen, and 0.33% sulfur. The results indicate that oil palm fronds can be effectively converted into carbon-rich biochar through the retort pyrolysis method. This biochar has potential applications in sustainable biomass management, soil improvement, and environmental remediation.

Abstract views: 3 ,

PDF downloads: 6

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Ali, A., Jabeen, N., Chachar, Z., Chachar, S., Ahmed, S., Ahmed, N., Laghari, A. A., Sahito, Z. A., Farruhbek, R., & Yang, Z. (2025). The role of biochar in enhancing soil health & interactions with rhizosphere properties and enzyme activities in organic fertilizer substitution. Frontiers in Plant Science, 16(June), 1–23. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2025.1595208

Dayoub, E. B., Tóth, Z., Soós, G., & Anda, A. (2024). Chemical and Physical Properties of Selected Biochar Types and a Few Application Methods in Agriculture. Agronomy, 14(11).

https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14112540

Ghorbani, M., Amirahmadi, E., Neugschwandtner, R. W., Konvalina, P., Kopecký, M., Moudrý, J., Perná, K., & Murindangabo, Y. T. (2022). The Impact of Pyrolysis Temperature on Biochar Properties and Its Effects on Soil Hydrological Properties. Sustainability (Switzerland), 14(22).

https://doi.org/10.3390/su142214722

Hoque, M. M., Saha, B. K., Scopa, A., & Drosos, M. (2025). Biochar in Agriculture: A Review on Sources, Production, and Composites Related to Soil Fertility, Crop Productivity, and Environmental Sustainability. C-Journal of Carbon Research, 11(3), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.3390/c11030050

Hwong, C. N., Sim, S. F., Kho, L. K., Teh, Y. A., Harrold, L. D., Chua, K. H., & Zainal, N. H. (2022). Effects Of Biochar From Oil Palm Biomass On Soil Properties And Growth Performance Of Oil Palm Seedlings. Journal of Sustainability Science and Management, 17(4), 183–200. https://doi.org/10.46754/jssm.2022.4.014

Ippolito, J. A., Cui, L., Kammann, C., Wrage-Mönnig, N., Estavillo, J. M., Fuertes-Mendizabal, T., Cayuela, M. L., Sigua, G., Novak, J., Spokas, K., & Borchard, N. (2020). Feedstock choice, pyrolysis temperature and type influence biochar characteristics: a comprehensive meta-data analysis review. Biochar, 2(4), 421–438. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42773-020-00067-x

Khan, S., Irshad, S., Mehmood, K., Hasnain, Z., Nawaz, M., Rais, A., Gul, S., Wahid, M. A., Hashem, A., Fathi, E., & Ibrar, D. (2024). Biochar production and characteristics, its impacts on soil health, crop production, and yield enhancement: A review. Plants, 13(2), 166. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13020166

Lataf, A., Jozefczak, M., Vandecasteele, B., Viaene, J., Schreurs, S., Carleer, R., Yperman, J., Marchal, W., Cuypers, A., & Vandamme, D. (2022). The effect of pyrolysis temperature and feedstock on biochar agronomic properties. Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis, 168.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaap.2022.105728

Li, L., Long, A., Fossum, B., & Kaiser, M. (2023). Effects of pyrolysis temperature and feedstock type on biochar characteristics pertinent to soil carbon and soil health: A meta-analysis. Soil Use and Management, 39(1), 43–52. https://doi.org/10.1111/sum.12848

Li, X., Liu, N., Zhang, J., Sun, Z., Fu, S., Zhan, X., Yang, J., Zhou, R., Zhang, H., Liu, H., & Han, X. (2023). Pyrolysis temperature had effects on the physicochemical properties of biochar. Plant, Soil and Environment, 69(8), 363–373. https://doi.org/10.17221/444/2022-PSE

Marihot, E. S., Hutapea, S., Panjaitan, E., & Mardiana, S. (2024). Applicability assessment of oil palm trunk biochar for use as soil amendment: Morphology, structure, and chemical properties. Science & Technology Asia, 29(1), 256–270. https://doi.org/10.14456/scitechasia.2024.19

Mevira, N. S., Yusfinda, B., Aziz, A. N., & Stephanie, S. (2025). Recycling palm shell waste into biochar using biomass-based pyrolysis method for sustainable energy transition: A review. Journal of Clean Technology, 2(2), 61–75. https://doi.org/10.15294/joct.v2i2.28865

Mohamed, M., & Yusup, S. (2021). A review on sustainability and quality of biochar production from oil palm biomass in Malaysia using thermal conversion technology. E3S Web of Conferences, 287. https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202128704011

Omar, N. N., Abdullah, N., Mustafa, I. S., & Sulaiman, F. (2018). Characterisation of Oil Palm Frond for Bio-oil Production. In ASM Sci. J (Vol. 11, Issue 1).

Prasetiyo, Y., Hidayat, B., Bintang, S., Program, S., Agroteknologi, F., Pertanian, U., Sumatera, U., Jl, A., Sofian, N., Bulan, P., & Medan Baru, K. (2020). Karakteristik Kimia Biochar Dari Beberapa Biomassa Dan Metode Pirolisis. Online) Oktober, 23(1). https://doi.org/10.30596/agrium.v21i3.2456

Promraksa, A., & Rakmak, N. (2020). Biochar production from palm oil mill residues and application of the biochar to adsorb carbon dioxide. Heliyon, 6(5). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04019

Puspita, V. (2021). Karakteristik Biochar Sekam Padi Pada Dua Temperatur Pirolisis (Rice Husk Biochar Characteristisc at two pyrolysis temperature). JFP Jurnal Ilmiah Mahasiswa Pertanian, 6(4). www.jim.unsyiah.ac.id/JFP

Reynaldi, B., Septyani, I. A. P., Walida, H., & Rizal, K. (2024). Sifat Kimia Biochar Pelepah Kelapa Sawit Dari Negeri Lama Seberang, Kabupaten Labuhanbatu. Jurnal Tanah Dan Sumberdaya Lahan, 11(1), 1–6. https://doi.org/10.21776/ub.jtsl.2024.011.1.1

Septyani, I. A. P., & Zamzami, L. F. (2025). Carbon sequistration through oil palm frond biochar for CO2 mitigation and land degradation. Agrovigor: Jurnal Agroekoteknologi, 18(2), 121–129. https://doi.org/10.21107/agrovigor.v18i2.30660

Sifat, A., Daripada, K. B., Kelapa, P., Untuk, S., Air, R., Sekunder, S., Pemprosesan, K., Sawit, K., Razali, N., & Kamarulzaman, N. Z. (2022). Chemical Characterisation Of Biochar From Oil Palm Frond For Palm Oil Mill Secondary Effluent Treatment. In Malaysian Journal of Analytical Sciences (Vol. 26).

Tomczyk, A., Sokołowska, Z., & Boguta, P. (2020). Biochar physicochemical properties: pyrolysis temperature and feedstock kind effects. Reviews in Environmental Science and Biotechnology, 19(1), 191–215. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11157-020-09523-3

Tuti Ariani Bawamenewi, Friska Hastika Gea, & Septenius Waruwu. (2025). Penggunaan Biochar untuk Meningkatkan Kualitas Tanah pada Sistem Pertanian Berkelanjutan. Hidroponik : Jurnal Ilmu Pertanian Dan Teknologi Dalam Ilmu Tanaman, 2(1), 179–187. https://doi.org/10.62951/hidroponik.v2i1.257

Varkolu, M., Gundekari, S., Omvesh, Palla, V. C. S., Kumar, P., Bhattacharjee, S., & Vinodkumar, T. (2025). Recent Advances in Biochar Production, Characterization, and Environmental Applications. Catalysts, 15(3), 1–42. https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15030243

Yaashikaa, P. R., Kumar, P. S., Varjani, S., & Saravanan, A. (2020). A critical review on the biochar production techniques, characterization, stability and applications for circular bioeconomy. Biotechnology Reports, 28, e00570. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.btre.2020.e00570