relation: https://khub.utp.edu.my/scholars/12977/ title: Vacuum pyrolysis incorporating microwave heating and base mixture modification: An integrated approach to transform biowaste into eco-friendly bioenergy products creator: Ge, S. creator: Foong, S.Y. creator: Ma, N.L. creator: Liew, R.K. creator: Wan Mahari, W.A. creator: Xia, C. creator: Yek, P.N.Y. creator: Peng, W. creator: Nam, W.L. creator: Lim, X.Y. creator: Liew, C.M. creator: Chong, C.C. creator: Sonne, C. creator: Lam, S.S. description: The escalating consumption of fossil fuels and dumping of palm kernel shells (PKS) drives biofuel production to improve supply and waste disposal. To convert PKS into modified biochar (MBC) value-added solid fuel, we use microwave vacuum pyrolysis accompanied by sodium-potassium hydroxide mixture modification. First, PKS underwent microwave vacuum pyrolysis to produce biochar, and then it was chemically activated using sodium-potassium hydroxide mixture. The MBC surface morphology, porous characteristics, proximate content, and energy properties depended on microwave irradiation period and power. High yields (79 ± 1.5 wt) were recorded at microwave power 700 W and irradiation period of 10 min, giving a high BET surface area (1320 m2/g) and pore volume (0.70 cm3/g). The MBC had acceptable low content of ash, nitrogen, and no sulphur, demonstrating its potential as an environmental friendly fuel to replace conventional coal in combustion. The MBC shows high energy yield (�90.5), fuel ratio (�26.47), and heating value (�28.69 MJ/kg) comparable to conventional fuels, thus showing desirable solid fuel properties. Energy balance analysis shows positive energy ratio of up to 10 and net energy output of up to 24.47 MJ/kg, recovering a product with a higher energy content compared to electrical power input for the pyrolysis operation. These findings demonstrate the exceptional potential of the MBC produced by this innovative approach for bioenergy generation that per se will reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases and thereby reducing global warming and climate change. © 2020 Elsevier Ltd publisher: Elsevier Ltd date: 2020 type: Article type: PeerReviewed identifier: Ge, S. and Foong, S.Y. and Ma, N.L. and Liew, R.K. and Wan Mahari, W.A. and Xia, C. and Yek, P.N.Y. and Peng, W. and Nam, W.L. and Lim, X.Y. and Liew, C.M. and Chong, C.C. and Sonne, C. and Lam, S.S. (2020) Vacuum pyrolysis incorporating microwave heating and base mixture modification: An integrated approach to transform biowaste into eco-friendly bioenergy products. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 127. ISSN 13640321 relation: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85083339896&doi=10.1016%2fj.rser.2020.109871&partnerID=40&md5=b002c828793c8eb9fc702160514f6d78 relation: 10.1016/j.rser.2020.109871 identifier: 10.1016/j.rser.2020.109871