The Utilization of Empty Fruit Bunch to Produce Dimethyl Ether Using Single-

Stage Synthesis Process and Gasification with Self-Sustained Energy

Team Number: PD-004

ABSTRACT
Indonesia imports almost 75% demand of Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG)
as the local supply is not sufficient. The usage of alternative source of energy has
been considered for instance Dimethyl Ether (DME) which has similar
characteristics to LPG. The governor is expecting the substitution of LPG into DME
by 2024. DME can be produced from biomass waste such as Empty Fruit Bunch
(EFB) which is relatively overflow in Indonesia due to production of CPO and
lately biodiesel. As the biggest producer of palm oil in the world, Indonesia
produced 51.8 MT CPO in 2019 resulting about 46 MT EFB waste and 120.2 MT
POME waste. Utilization of EFB and POME will resolve the need of alternative
green and sustainable energy as well as the environmental issues in CPO
production.
One of the largest CPO Company is PT Sawit Sumbermas Sarana Tbk
located in Pangkalan Bun with capacity of producing 560 MT/hour Fresh Fruit
Bunch (FFB) resulting 124.2 MT/hour EFB waste and 324 MT/hour POME waste.
Utilization of 65% EFB will produce around 6,330 kg/hour or 50.000 MT/year
DME. The most strategic place for this plant is Pangkalan Bun, Kalimantan Tengah,
which is near Buun River and Kumai Harbor.
This plant will utilize EFB, POME, and Palm Kernel Shell waste. EFB will
be converted to DME through a single-stage DME synthesis process preceded by
gasification of EFB to syngas. As gasification is a highly energy consuming
process, POME and Palm Kernel Shell waste will be converted to biogas to supply
energy needed for this plant. Achieving the goal of zero waste plant, the slurry waste
of biodigester will be used to produce fertilizer which will be sent back to PT Sawit
Sumbermas Sarana Tbk.
Considering the negative effect of palm oil waste, manufacturing DME is
very promising especially with the good value of DME ($450/MT) and the need of
alternative energy. This plant will also support Indonesia to achieve sustainable
development goals (SDGs’30) by providing DME as renewable energy. As palm
oil industry will continue to expand to achieve B30 program, EFB, POME, and
Palm Oil Kernel will be a sustainable raw material for this plant.

Keyword: EFB, POME; DME; LPG; Biogas