Experimental Study and Mathematical Quantification of Drying as Pretreatment of Local Biomass for Adsorbents in Biogas Purification

: Biogas impurities is a major problem related to its heating value and feasibility of conversion to small-scale electrical energy. Adsorption is believed as one of the potential method of biogas purification. This process conducted in porous material whose surface active properties, such as activated carbon with an acid or base activator. Laboratory experiments and mathematical quantification were carried out to study the drying process of Gamal (Gliricidia sepium) stem as a source of biomass that were widely grown in the local area of livestock / biodigester. Determination of the drying process parameters and mass transfer parameters were approached using three drying models: (1) Dincer and Dost models, (2) Bi-G correlation approach, and (3) Fick’s law equation. This research shows that second Fick’s Law is the best model to describe the drying process parameters and to calculate the mass transfer parameters for Gamal stem.