Briquettes of acai seeds: characterization of the biomass and influence of the parameters of production temperature and pressure in the physical-mechanical and energy quality.

Agro-industries, leveraged by the high demand of acai products, promote environmental impact through the generation of wastes in several locals in Amazon. The use with bioenergetic purposes has capacity to mitigate these scenario. Thus, the aim of the study was to characterize the biomass of acai seeds and establish the technical parameters of temperature and pressure of work to the production of briquettes of physical, mechanical and thermal quality. Temperatures of 120, 140 and 160 °C; and pressures of 15, 20 and 25 MPa were studied. We analyzed the briquettes mechanical compressive strength, rate of water absorption, rate of volumetric expansion and energy and apparent density. To the characterization of in natura seeds, the proximate analysis, chemical composition (extractives, holocellulose and lignin contents), higher, lower and useful heating value were determined. The proximate analysis indicated biomass thermal resistance, potential to direct burning and conversion by thermochemical processes. The lignin content may increase briquettes compressive strength produced in high temperatures. It was observed that the temperature had more influence in the evaluated briquettes characteristics than the pressure. The compressive strength was greater in 160 °C and 15 MPa briquettes, indicating that the lignin works as binder in this temperature, however, with pressure improvement the resistance is not favored due to the limit of resistance to compaction. The rate of water absorption decreased with the pressure increase and the temperature statistically affected in 140 °C briquettes. We observed volumetric expansion values in consonance to other found in dense biofuels of the literature. Further, the apparent density and energy density were favored by pressure improvement and the temperature helped in the increase of the apparent density. Moreover, the produced briquettes presented gain in the apparent density regarding the in natura biomass and had energy density comparable to coal and adequate to co-firing in boilers.

Pelletizing of lignocellulosic wastes as an environmentally friendly solution for the energy supply: insights on the properties of pellets from Brazilian biomasses.

In the context of the circular bioeconomy and cleaner production, the incorporation of the by-products of plant biomass production in the bioenergy chain is fundamental. However, lignocellulosic wastes have properties that hinder their use for the production of biofuels. This study aims to evaluate how blends of lignocellulosic wastes improve the physical, chemical, and mechanical quality of pellets destined to the industrial sector, and to identify the challenges associated with the use of agroforestry biomass as raw material for pelletizing. Pellets were produced from blends of soybean wastes, sorghum wastes, pine needles, rice powder, Eucalyptus sawdust, and charcoal fines. Additionally, pure pellets composed of soybean wastes, sugarcane bagasse, and pine wood were evaluated. The effect of biomass type on the energy density, ash content, net heating value, and ultimate analysis was significant. The pellets produced with soybean wastes presented high contents of N (3.5-4.9%) and ashes (16.4-26.7%), besides low mechanical durability (≤ 96%), hindering its commercialization for industrial purposes. Pellets with sugarcane bagasse presented N (1.5%), S (0.03%), ashes (5.6%), mechanical durability (96.6%), and net heating value (15.1 MJ kg-1), suitable for industrial energy use in accordance with ISO 17225-6. The high N and ash contents and the low mechanical durability are the greatest challenges for the energy use of pellets produced from Brazilian agroforestry wastes.

Pretreatment Affects Activated Carbon from Piassava.

The specificity of activated carbon (AC) can be targeted by pretreatment of the precursors and/or activation conditions. Piassava (Leopoldinia piassaba and Attalea funifera Martius) are fibrous palms used to make brushes, and other products. Consolidated harvest and production residues provide economic feasibility for producing AC, a value-added product from forest and industrial residues. Corona electrical discharge and extraction pretreatments prior to AC activation were investigated to determine benefits from residue pretreatment. The resulting AC samples were characterized using elemental analyses and FTIR and tested for efficacy using methylene blue and phenol. All resulting AC had good adsorbent properties. Extraction as a pretreatment improved functionality in AC properties over Corona electrical discharge pretreatment. Due to higher lignin content, AC from L. piassaba had better properties than that from A. funifera.

Características de crescimento, composição química, física e estimativa de massa seca de madeira em clones e espécies de Eucalyptus jovens / Growing characteristics, chemical composition, physical and dry mass estimated of wood in young Eucalyptus species and clones

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito do material genético, clones e espécies, e da classe de diâmetro nas características de crescimento, composição química, densidade básica e a estimativa de massa seca de madeira. Foram avaliados quatro clones e cinco espécies, aos quatro anos de idade, de Eucalyptus procedentes da empresa RIMA Industrial S.A. Foram avaliadas cinco árvores por clone e espécie em três e quatro classes diamétricas, respectivamente. Avaliaram-se as características individuais de crescimento da árvore, a densidade básica, a estimativa de massa seca, o teor de lignina, extrativos totais, holocelulose e cinzas. O volume, com e sem casca, e a estimativa de massa seca apresentaram efeito significativo de material genético (clone e espécie) e classe diamétrica. O teor de lignina não foi influenciado significativamente pelo material genético e classe diamétrica. A densidade básica apresentou efeito significativo de classe diamétrica para os clones e de material genético para as espécies. O teste de identidade de modelos somente foi não significativo para a estimativa de massa seca para as espécies, possibilitando usar a equação comum independente da espécie. Os clones apresentaram madeira mais homogênea, com menor densidade básica, extrativos totais e lignina total e maior teor de holocelulose, características mais adequadas à produção de polpa celulósica. As espécies apresentaram madeira mais heterogênea, com maior densidade básica, estimativa de massa seca, extrativos totais e lignina total e menor teor de cinzas e holocelulose, características desejáveis à produção de bioenergia.

This research aimed to determine the basic density, the estimate of dry mass and the chemical composition of clones and Eucalyptus species. Four clones and five species of Eucalyptus were appraised, with four years old, coming from the RIMA Industrial Company S.A. Five trees were sampled for clone and species in three and four diametric classes, respectively. Wood characteristics as the basic density, the insoluble and soluble lignin in acid sulfuric, extractive total and ash content in the wood were available. The results showed that the volume, with or without bark, and estimated dry mass showed significant effects of genetic material (clone and species) and diameter class. The lignin content was not significantly influenced by both genetic material and diameter class. Wood basic density had a significant effect of diameter class for clones and genetic material for the species. The identity test for linear models was only not significant for estimated dry mass of the species, indicating to be possible to use the common equation independent of the species. The clones showed a more homogeneous wood with lower average basic density, extractives and total lignin content and higher holocellulose content, characteristics which are suitable for pulp production. The wood species showed more heterogeneous with highest average basic density, estimated dry weight, total lignin and extractives content and lower ash and holocellulose content, characteristics desirable for bioenergy production.

Densidade básica e estimativa de massa seca e de lignina na madeira em espécies de Eucalyptus / Basic density and dry mass and lignin mass estimate in Eucalyptus wood species

Objetivou-se, no presente trabalho, usar três diferentes formas para estimar a densidade básica da madeira, visando a obtenção da estimativa de massa seca e a massa de lignina na madeira em nove espécies de Eucalyptus, em diferentes idades. Foram usadas três formas de estimativa da densidade básica da madeira, ou seja, em um único ponto no tronco (1,3 m de altura do solo), a média ponderada pelo volume e a média aritmética. Essas estimativas foram usadas para a determinação da massa seca e de lignina na madeira. Os resultados indicam que o Eucalyptus grandis W.Hill. (EG), aos quatro anos, e o híbrido (HB), nas demais idades, foram as espécies que se destacaram no incremento volumétrico. O efeito da forma de estimativa somente foi significativo para a densidade básica nas idades de cinco, seis e sete anos. O HB foi à única espécie que apresentou diferença entre as formas de estimativa de densidade básica da madeira. O EG e o HB foram as espécies que se destacaram na produção de massa seca e de lignina, apesar de não serem as madeiras de maior densidade básica e maior teor de lignina. O incremento volumétrico desempenhou importante papel nas estimativas de massa seca e de lignina na madeira e, portanto, deve ser considerado em todas as utilizações da madeira que depender dessas estimativas.

The objective of the research was to use three different forms to calcuate the basic wood density of trees to obtain the estimate of dry mass and lignin mass of nine Eucalyptus wood species, at different ages. Three different forms were used to estimate the basic density of wood, at only one point on the trunk (1,3 m of height from the ground), the average weighted estimate by volume, and the arithmetical average. These estimates were used for the determination in the estimates of dry mass and lignin mass in the wood. The results showed the Eucalyptus grandis W. Hill., at four years of age, and the hybrid, at other ages were the species that highlighted in volumetric increment. The effects of species, age, and interaction species x age were significant for all the evaluated features. The effect of the estimate form was only significant for the basic density at ages five, six, and seven years. The hybrid was the only species that presented a difference in the forms of estimating basic wood density. Eucalyptus grandis and the hybrid were the species that highlighted in the production of dry mass and lignin, in spite of not being wood with the greater basic density and lignin content. The volumetric increment played an important role in the estimates of dry mass and lignin in the wood. So, it must be considered in all applications of wood that depend on these estimates.