The moisture content (wet basis) of the as-received EFB samples was determined using a standard test method (ASTM E1756-01) whereas, the contents of moisture (dry basis), volatile matter, fixed carbon and ash were determined using a thermogravimetric analyzer (model Mettler Toledo, TGA/SDTA851, USA). Approximately 10 mg of air-dried EFB powder was placed in an alumina crucible and inserted into the TGA furnace and weighed. To estimate the moisture content (dry basis) and volatile matter, the EFB sample was continuously heated from room temperature to a temperature of 600 °C at a rate of 10 °C/min under N2 flow at the rate of 10 mL/min. Then, the furnace temperature was further increased to 900 °C at 10 °C/min under 10 mL/min of air flow to estimate the fixed carbon content. The residue was considered to represent the ash content.