PARÂMETROS TERMODINÂMICOS DA CASCA DE LARANJA DESIDRATADA

The global energy scenario is currently a widely discussed topic, with growing concern about the future supplies. Thus, much attention has been dedicated to the utilization of biomass as an energy resource. In this respect, orange peel has become a material of great interest, especially to Brazil, which generates around 9.5 million tons of this waste per year. To this end, the authors studied the kinetics of the thermal processing of dried orange peel in inert and oxidizing atmosphere. The thermodynamic parameters were determined by the Ozawa-Flynn-Wall method for the global process observed during heating from the 25°C up to 800°C. The thermal analysis in air and nitrogen showed 3-2 stages of mass loss, respectively, with approximately 20% residual mass under a nitrogen atmosphere. The increase in the values of activation energy for the conversion points between 20% and 60% for thermal effects in air and nitrogen atmosphere was observed. The activation energy obtained in an oxidizing atmosphere was higher than that obtained under a nitrogen atmosphere. The fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis showed that the material has a high level of complexity with the presence of alkali and alkaline earth groups as well as phosphate, plus substances such as pectin, cellulose and lignin.

ATRIBUIÇÃO DA ESTEREOQUÍMICA DA α-SANTONINA ATRAVÉS DAS MEDIDAS DO ACOPLAMENTO DIPOLAR RESIDUAL

The measurement of nuclear magnetic resonance parameters in an anisotropic media, such as residual dipolar coupling (RDC), has proven to be an excellent methodology for the refinement of chemical structures, being used as a complementary tool in the determination of the relative configuration, conformation, and constitution of organic compounds. In this study, we applied this methodology to determine the relative configuration of α-santonin, a natural product with four stereocenters, while assigning its prochiral methylene protons using only the RDCs obtained in a polyacrylonitrile polymer gel swollen in DMSO-d6.

Effect of extracts from citric biomass, rusted coffee leaves and coffee berry husks on Phoma costarricencis of coffee plants

Phoma leaf spot, caused by Phoma costarricensis poses a serious threat to coffee (Coffea arabica) production, especially in the highlands of the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Extracts of citric biomass, coffee berry husks and coffee leaves severely affected by rust caused by Hemileia vastatrix, were evaluated against P. costarricensis. In an in vitro assay, aqueous extracts of rusted leaves and berry husks plus the commercial extracts based on citric biomass named Ecolife® and Agromil® were tested at various dilutions on the mycelial growth inhibition of P. costarricensis. In vivo, coffee seedlings maintained in glasshouse, were sprayed with these extracts seven days before inoculation of P. costarricensis. Only extracts from citric biomass had inhibitory effects on the fungus. In vivo, Ecolife® (5 ml/l), Agromil® (5 g/l) and the aqueous extract of rusted coffee leaves (dilution 1:6) reduced Phoma leaf spot. Both, Ecolife® and the extract of rusted coffee leaves were significantly more effective in reducing the area under the lesion progress curve when applied at lower doses, indicating a possible effect on the induction of resistance.

Efeito do conteúdo e da natureza da lignina residual na eficiência e na seletividade do branqueamento com ozônio

Neste estudo foram avaliados os efeitos do conteúdo e da natureza da lignina residual na eficiência e na seletividade do branqueamento com ozônio de polpa kraft convencional (kraft) e pré-deslignificada com oxigênio (kraft-O). Constatou-se que a eficiência do branqueamento com ozônio se eleva com o aumento do conteúdo de lignina residual da polpa. O tratamento com ozônio é mais seletivo para polpas kraft-O, mas para um mesmo tipo de polpa a seletividade de branqueamento com ozônio se eleva com o aumento de lignina residual. A eficiência do branqueamento com ozônio aumenta com o teor de lignina fenólica na polpa, entretanto a seletividade é negativamente afetada pela presença destas estruturas.

Efeitos da idade e classe diamétrica na deformação residual longitudinal em árvores de Eucalyptus dunnii maiden

O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos da idade e da classe diamétrica nos níveis das tensões de crescimento longitudinal em árvores de Eucalyptus dunnii oriundas de plantio comercial. O material avaliado foi procedente da Empresa Procopiak Compensados e Embalagens S.A., localizada no município de Canoinhas, Santa Catarina. Os níveis de tensão de crescimento foram mensurados indiretamente pelo método do "CIRAD-Forêt". Os resultados indicaram que os níveis da deformação residual longitudinal (DRL) apresentaram tendência de aumento linear com a idade. O efeito da classe diamétrica evidenciou correlação negativa com a DRL aos 8 e 13 anos de idade.

Dry biomass distribution in a cerrado sensu stricto site in Brazil central

The Cerrado has been the main source of firewood and charcoal in Brazil, but despite being one of the hot spots for conservation of the world's biodiversity, neither plantations of native species nor sustainable management has been adopted in the region. The aim of this work was to investigate the biomass distribution and the potential for energy production of the cerrado species. The study was conducted in a cerrado sensu stricto site at the Água Limpa Farm (15º 56'14'' S and 47º 46'08'' W) in the Cerrado Biosphere Reserve. An area of 63.54ha was divided in 20 x 50m plots and, a random sample consisting of ten of these plots, representing 1.56% of the study-site, was assessed. All woody individuals from 5 cm diameter at 30 cm above ground level were identified and measured. Each individual was felled, the twigs thinner than 3cm were discarded while the larger branches and the trunks, both with bark, were weighted separately. After that, 2.5cm transverse sections of the trunk with bark were taken at 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% of the length. A similar sample was also taken at the base of each branch. A total of 47 species in 35 genera and 24 families were found, with an average density of 673 individuals per ha. The diameter distribution showed a reversed-J shape with 67% of the individuals up to 13cm, while the maximum diameter was 32.30cm. Seven species represented 72% of the total biomass. In general, the species with higher production per tree were among those with higher production per ha. This content was distributed by diameter classes, reaching a maximum of 2.5ton/ha between 9 to 13cm and then, decreasing to 0.96 ton/ha between 29 to 33cm diameter. Carbon sequestering was 6.2ton/ha (until the actual stage of cerrado) based on an average 50% carbon content in the dry matter. The heat combustion of the wood varied from 18,903kj/kg to 20,888kj/kg with an average of 19,942kj/kg. The smaller diameter classes fix more carbon due to the large number of small plants per ha. But, for a species that reached larger dimensions and contained individuals in all diameter classes, Vochysia thyrsoidea, one can verify an increase in carbon fixation from 1.41 kg/ha in the first class (5 to 9cm) to 138,3kg/ha in the last (25 to 33cm). That indicates that it is possible to select species that reach larger size with a higher capacity of carbon accumulation per plant. The species that reached larger dimensions, with a production per tree above average and had high calorific power values were Dalbergia miscolobium, Pterodon pubescens and Sclerolobium paniculatum. These species have potential for use in fuelwood plantations and sustainable management.

Estudos laboratoriais do comportamento de um solo residual arenoso reforçado com fibras de polipropileno, visando à aplicação em estradas florestais

Este trabalho teve como objetivo analisar o comportamento mecânico da mistura de um solo residual jovem de textura predominantemente arenosa reforçado com fibras de polipropileno, com vistas à aplicação em estradas florestais. Como ponto de partida, determinou-se, mediante os resultados de ensaios de compressão não-confinada, realizados em corpos-de-prova compactados na energia do ensaio Proctor Normal, que o quantitativo de 0,75% de fibras com 20 mm de comprimento foi a combinação responsável pelo maior ganho de resistência. Com a mistura solo-fibra composta por essa combinação, foram realizados ensaios triaxiais do tipo CID/Sat em corpos-de-prova compactados na energia anteriormente referida. Através desta pesquisa, foi possível avaliar: (i) a influência da variação da umidade nos parâmetros de resistência mecânica do solo e das misturas solo-fibra e (ii) a influência das fibras nos parâmetros de resistência ao cisalhamento do solo em estudo. Analisando os resultados, pôde-se concluir que o uso de fibras de polipropileno promoveu um ganho da ordem de 110% na resistência à compressão não-confinada e de 560% na coesão de intercepto do solo estudado.

Forest Biomass Resources and Technological Prospects for the Production of Second-generation Biofuels in Finland by 2020

Introduction of second-generation biofuels is an essential factor for meeting the EU’s 2020 targets for renewable energy in the transport sector and enabling the more ambitious targets for 2030. Finland’s forest industry is strongly involved in the development and commercialising of second-generation biofuel production technologies. The goal of this paper is to provide a quantified insight into Finnish prospects for reaching the 2020 national renewable energy targets and concurrently becoming a large-scale producer of forest biomass based second-generation biofuels feeding the increasing demand in European markets. The focus of the paper is on assessing the potential for utilising forest biomass for liquid biofuels up to 2020. In addition, technological issues related to the production of second-generation biofuels were reviewed. Finland has good opportunities to realise a scenario to meet 2020 renewable energy targets and for large-scale production of wood based biofuels. In 2020, biofuel production from domestic forest biomass in Finland may reach nearly a million ton (40 PJ). With the existing biofuel production capacity (20 PJ/yr) and national biofuel consumption target (25 PJ) taken into account, the potential net export of biofuels from Finland in 2020 would be 35 PJ, corresponding to 2–3% of European demand. Commercialisation of second-generation biofuel production technologies, high utilisation of the sustainable harvesting potential of Finnish forest biomass, and allocation of a significant proportion of the pulpwood harvesting potential for energy purposes are prerequisites for this scenario. Large-scale import of raw biomass would enable remarkably greater biofuel production than is described in this paper.

Developing markets of energy biomass – local and global perspectives

The thesis explores global and national-level issues related to the development of markets for biomass for energy. The thesis consists of five separate papers and provides insights on selected issues. The aim of Paper I was to identify methodological and statistical challenges in assessing international solid and liquid biofuels trade and provide an overview of the Finnish situation with respect to the status of international solid and liquid biofuels trade. We found that, for the Finnish case, it is possible to qualify direct and indirect trade volumes of biofuels. The study showed that indirect trade of biofuels has a highly significant role in Finland and may be a significant sector also in global biofuels trade. The purpose of Paper II was to provide a quantified insight into Finnish prospects for meeting the national 2020 renewable energy targets and concurrently becoming a largescale producer of forest-biomass-based second-generation biofuels for feeding increasing demand in European markets. We found that Finland has good opportunities to realise a scenario to meet 2020 renewable energy targets and for large-scale production of wood-based biofuels. The potential net export of transport biofuels from Finland in 2020 would correspond to 2–3% of European demand. Paper III summarises the global status of international solid and liquid biofuels trade as illuminated by several separate sources. International trade of biofuels was estimated at nearly 1 EJ for 2006. Indirect trade of biofuels through trading of industrial roundwood and material by-products comprises the largest proportion of the trading, with a share of about two thirds. The purpose of Paper IV was to outline a comprehensive picture of the coverage of various certification schemes and sustainability principles relating to the entire value-added chain of biomass and bioenergy. Regardless of the intensive work that has been done in the field of sustainability schemes and principles concerning use of biomass for energy, weaknesses still exist. The objective of Paper V was to clarify the alternative scenarios for the international biomass market until 2020 and identify the underlying steps needed toward a wellfunctioning and sustainable market for biomass for energy purposes. An overall conclusion drawn from this analysis concerns the enormous opportunities related to the utilisation of biomass for energy in the coming decades.

Biomass of tree species as a response to planting density and interspecific competition

Planting trees is an important way to promote the recovery of degraded areas in the Caatinga region. Experiments (E1, E2, and E3) were conducted in a randomized blocks design, with three, three, and five replicates, respectively. The objectives were to evaluate biomass of the shoots of: a) gliricidia (G) and sabiá (S), as a response to planting density; b) G, S, and neem (N) in competition; c) G, and S in agroforestry. E1 was conducted in split-plots, and planting densities (400, 600, 800, 1000, and 1200 plants ha-1) as subplots. E2 consisted of a factorial comprising the following plots: GGG, NGN, SGS, NNN, GNG, SNS, SSS, GSG, NSN (each letter represents a row of plants). E3 was conducted with G and S in agroforestry experiment. The trees were harvested after 54, 42, and 27 months old, in E1, E2 and E3, respectively. In E1, G presented higher green biomass of the stems and leaf at smaller densities than S, but lower green biomass of branches at most densities. The species did not differ for mean stem dry biomass and leaf dry biomass, but G showed higher branch dry biomass at most densities. Higher planting densities increased green and dry biomass of stems, branches, and leaves in S, but decreased those characteristics in G, with the exception of leaf dry mass, which was not influenced by density. In E2, the behavior of each species was identical in plots containing the same or different species. Griricidia showed the highest green biomass of stems and branches, and the highest values for geren biomass of the leaf were observed for gliricidia and neem. The highest stem, branch, and leaf dry biomass values were obtained for G, S, and N, respectively. In E3, G was superior for stem and leaf green biomass, and for stem and branch dry biomass. There were no differences between species for the other biomass values.

ABOVEGROUND AND BELOWGROUND BIOMASS AND CARBON ESTIMATES FOR CLONAL EUCALYPTUS TREES IN SOUTHEAST BRAZIL

Eucalyptus plantations represent a short term and cost efficient alternative for sequestrating carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Despite the known potential of forest plantations of fast growing species to store carbon in the biomass, there are relatively few studies including precise estimates of the amount of carbon in these plantations. In this study it was determined the carbon content in the stems, branches, leaves and roots of a clonal Eucalyptus grandis plantation in the Southeast of Brazil. We developed allometric equations to estimate the total amount of carbon and total biomass, and produced an estimate of the carbon stock in the stand level. Altogether, 23 sample trees were selected for aboveground biomass assessment. The roots of 9 of the 23 sampled trees were partially excavated to assess the belowground biomass at a singletree level. Two models with DBH, H and DBH2H were tested. The average relative share of carbon content in the stem, branch, leaf and root compartments was 44.6%, 43.0%, 46.1% and 37.8%, respectively, which is smaller than the generic value commonly used (50%). The best-fit allometric equations to estimate the total amount of carbon and total biomass had DBH2H as independent variable. The root-to-shoot ratio was relatively stable (C.V. = 27.5%) probably because the sub-sample was composed of clones. Total stand carbon stock in the Eucalyptus plantation was estimated to be 73.38 MgC ha-1, which is within the carbon stock range for Eucalyptus plantations.

ANÁLISE DA DEFORMAÇÃO RESIDUAL LONGITUDINAL E SUA RELAÇÃO COM PROPRIEDADES TECNOLÓGICAS DA MADEIRA DE ACÁCIA-NEGRA

RESUMOA madeira de acácia-negra tem sido utilizada em nichos que conferem pouco valor agregado à esse material. Diante disso, este trabalho teve como objetivo analisar as deformações residuais longitudinais (DRL) e suas relações com propriedades da madeira de Acacia mearnsii. Para tanto, foram selecionadas 60 árvores em plantios com idades distintas (4 e 7 anos) no Município de Piratini, RS. As características de crescimento avaliadas consistiram em diâmetro à altura do peito (1,3 m; DAP), espessura de casca (EP) e altura comercial (h). As propriedades físicas avaliadas massa específica básica (ρ) e teorde umidade à base seca (Tu). Já o tempo de propagação de onda ultrassonora foi determinado em conformidade com o procedimento NBR 15521. As propriedades mecânicas foram o módulo de elasticidade dinâmico (Ed), bem como as propriedades descritas no procedimento normativo D143-94, através dos ensaios de flexão estática, compressão paralela às fibras e Dureza Janka. ADRLesuas relações com as propriedades da madeira mostraram-se semelhantes aos resultados encontrados na literatura para a madeira de espécies do gênero Eucalyptus. No entanto, em magnitude, tais níveis se mostraram sensivelmente menores, conferindo à madeira de acácia-negra no que se refere a esse parâmetro de qualidade, indicação para a confecção de produtos sólidos.

BIOMASS SUPPLY CHAIN ANALYSIS WITH DENSIFIED WASTE

ABSTRACT The possibility to vary the energy matrix, thus reducing the dependency on fossil fuels, has amplified the acceptance of biomass as an alternative fuel. Despite being a cheap and renewable option and the fact that Brazil is a major producer of waste from agriculture and forestry activities, the use of these materials has barriers due to its low density and low energetic efficiency, which can raise the costs of its utilization. Biomass densification has drawn attention due to its advantage in comparison to in natura biomass due to its better physical and combustion characteristics. The objective of this paper is to evaluate the impact of biomass densification in distribution and transport costs. To reach this objective, a mathematical model was used to represent decisions at a supply chain that coordinates the purchase and sale of forestry and wood waste. The model can evaluate the options to deliver biomass through the supply chain combining demand meeting and low cost. Results point to the possibility of an economy of 60% in transport cost and a reduction of 63% in the required quantity of trucks when densified waste is used. However, costs related to the densifying process lead to an increase of total supply costs of at least 37,8% in comparison to in natura waste. Summing up, the viability of biomass briquettes industry requires a cheaper densification process.

Efeito residual de quatro aplicações anuais de lodo de esgoto e vinhaça na qualidade tecnológica da cana-de-açúcar

O principal objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos residuais, por quatro anos seguidos, de diferentes tipos de resíduos, aplicados de formas e em doses distintas, sobre a qualidade tecnológica da cana-de-açúcar de quinto corte (cultivar SP 81-3250). Os tratamentos testados são combinações de dois tipos de resíduos (lodo de esgoto; vinhaça; lodo de esgoto + vinhaça) com dois modos de aplicação (ao lado da linha de cultivo e em área total) e com duas doses (100 e 200%), e um tratamento-testemunha. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos casualizados, com três repetições, totalizando 39 parcelas. As variáveis analisadas foram: percentagem de sólidos solúveis no caldo extraído (Brix % C.E.), percentagem aparente de sacarose no caldo extraído (Pol % C.E.), percentagem da fibra na cana (Fibra % cana), pureza (%), percentagem aparente de sacarose na cana (Pol % cana), percentagem de açúcares redutores na cana (AR % cana), percentagem de açúcares redutores totais na cana (ART % cana) e açúcares totais recuperáveis (ATR). Os fatores de variação testados (tipo de resíduo, modo de aplicação e doses) não promoveram alterações na qualidade e não comprometeram a valorização da cana-de-açúcar.