Utilization of black liquor from delignification of Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch (OPEFB) as conductive carbon material via pyrolysis method

This study explores the utilization of lignin derived from black liquor—an alkaline byproduct of oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) delignification—for producing conductive carbon material through pyrolysis. The research aims to reduce environmental pollution caused by untreated black liquor and to convert it into valuable carbon material suitable for electrochemical energy storage applications. The delignification process used 0.2 M NaOH at pH 13–14, resulting in lignin-rich black liquor. The pyrolysis process was conducted at various temperatures ranging from 500°C to 800°C. The carbon obtained was characterized using CHN analysis to determine elemental composition and cyclic voltammetry (CV) to evaluate electrochemical performance. Results indicated that higher temperatures led to a significant decrease in carbon content due to carbonization, with the optimal pyrolysis temperature ranging between 600°C and 800°C. Cyclic voltammetry results demonstrated electrochemical activity suitable for supercapacitor materials, although capacitance values were relatively low. Further activation and characterization, including SEM and FTIR, are recommended to enhance surface area and identify functional groups for improved performance.