Thermal decomposition of solid fraction - celulignin from acid hydrolysis of the eucalyptus grandis forestry residue

• Grant number: 06/55067-9
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: August 01, 2007
• End date: July 31, 2009
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Mechanical Engineering - Transport Phenomena
• Principal Investigator: João Andrade de Carvalho Junior
• Grantee: João Andrade de Carvalho Junior
• Host Institution: Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais (INPE). Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação (Brasil). São José dos Campos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The aim of the present project is the use of the solid fraction - celulignin - obtained from acid hydrolysis of the Eucalyptus grandis forestry residue for the direct combustion in the production of energy. Those residues are lignocellulosics materials, formed mainly of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, which are considered abundant and renewable resources of energy. The first stage of this project will be the physical and chemical characterization of biomass, which consisted of elemental analysis (CHN), moisture, cellulose, hemicellulose, total lignin (soluble and insoluble) and ash determination. The second stage is comprised by simultaneous thermal analyses of TG/TGA/DTA in inert atmosphere (pure nitrogen) and oxidant (synthetic air), from room temperature to 900 °C, at a flow rate of 20 ml.min-1, with different heating rates of 10, 20, 30, 50 e 100 °C.min-1. Those thermal analyses determine the kinetics parameters of the biomass thermal degradation reaction (rate constant and activation energy). Finally, sample combustion heat will be establishing in order to evaluate the thermal conversion as energy potential. This work searches a new line for the total exploitation of eucalyptus residues (Eucalyptus grandis), since this biomass generation will grow because of the creation of Forestry National Program (PNF), decree number 3420, of 04/20/2000, which establishes a reforest area growing from 170.000 hectares to 630.000 hectares annuals, beginning in 2004. (AU)