Aproveitamento de resíduos madeireiro para a produção de energia: caracterização química

Abstract

In the 1970s, new concepts were established about environmental, economic and social sustainability by setting a new ideal standard for generation and consumption of energy. These new concepts have been spreading, especially in relation to the increased consumption of oil for electric power generation, since it is a non-renewable and a pollutant-generating source. In this context the biomass appears as an alternative energy source, since it is from renewable sources and do not degrade the environment. The objective of the present work was to evaluate the chemical characteristics of wood residues to produce energy. The residues of forest species were selected based on the project: Periodic Monitoring Study of Woods Sold in the city of Itacoatiara in Amazonas State, from which the most commonly used species in sawmills of the region, Brosimum portabile Ducke (amapá), Brosimum rubescens Taub (muirapiranga), Hymenolobium petraeum Ducke (angelim pedra) and Simarouba amara Aubl (marupá) were selected. Samples of wood residues were taken from these species, which have been anatomically identified, fragmented for the determination of basic density and milled for the determination of wood moisture content, heat value and chemical properties (content of extractives, cellulose, lignin, ashes and silica). The density of the studied species ranged from 0.55 to 0.88 g/cm3 and humidity from 8.5% to 9.5%. The descriptive analysis by species showed that from the four studied species, the ones that showed better performances for the production of energy were muirapiranga with heat value (4,866.6 cal/g), extractives (22.61%), lignins (34.53%), ashes (0.46%) and angelim pedra with heat value (4,568 cal/g), extractives (10.29%), lignins (34%) and ashes (0.52%). Regression analysis showed that there are positive correlations between heat value and extractives, between heat value and lignin and between heat value and silica. However the regression analysis showed a negative correlation between heat value and cellulose, and between heat value and ash content.