Potencial energético da biomassa e do carvão de espécies de bambu

Abstract

Biomass has always been an energy source utilized by humans, even before, the use of oil and natural gas. However, in the last couple of years, the need to mitigate climate change and the global demand increase for alternative fuel, besides Solar, Eolic and Hydro energies, one of them is the use of vegetal biomass. Such energy represents 10% of the world supply. Most of this biomass still comes from native forests and it’s called “traditional biomass”, causing great impact, in some way, to the environment. On the other hand, the use of bamboo as biomass for the generation of energy becomes a sustainable and interesting alternative, because among its characteristics, it’s spread ease is highlighted. In this sense, the goal of the present research, is to analyze the energy potential of four bamboo species, in natura and in charcoal form. The selected species were Phyllostachys aurea A.C. Rivière (golden bamboo), Chusquea gracilis McClure & Smith (criciúma), Chusquea mimosa McClure & Smith (caratuva) and Merostachys multiramea Hackel (sandpaper taquara), from the city of São Mateus do Sul, PR. The bamboo species were evaluated according to their moisture rate, specific mass, immediate chemical composition, coal gravimetric yield and superior calorific value. The Phyllostachys aurea species in natura presented superior calorific value of 18.91 MJ kg -1 and ash rate of 0.49%. The coal presented 25.05 MJ kg -1 and 1.24%, respectively. The ash rate value for Merostachys multiramea, Chusquea gracilis e Chusquea mimosa were 3.95%, 2.76% e 4.90%, whereas carbonized they were 5.43%, 6.43% e 7.93%, respectivey. The C. mimosa species’ superior calorific value was 25.55 MJ kg-1 but due to great ash generation after the burn and specific mass of 0.20 g cm-3 in natura and 0.10 g cm-3 in coal, may be better characteristics for activated charcoal use. Phyllostachys aurea’s specific mass was 0.63 g cm-3 in natura and 0.41 g cm-3 carbonized. The species’ high ash rate may be related to the mineral constituent rate present in the plant. In spite of that, all species presented favorable characteristics to use for energetic purposes, but the Phyllostachys aurea species was the one which presented itself more similar to those characteristics presented by eucapiltus wood, commonly used for this purpose.