title: Babassu nut residues: potential for bioenergy use in the North and Northeast of Brazil.
abstract: Babassu is considered the largest native oil resource worldwide and occurs naturally in Brazil. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential of babassu nut residues (epicarp, mesocarp and endocarp) for bioenergy use, especially for direct combustion and charcoal production. The material was collected in the rural area of the municipality of Sítio Novo do Tocantins, in the state of Tocantins, Brazil. Analyses were performed considering jointly the three layers that make up the babassu nut shell. The following chemical characterizations were performed: molecular (lignin, total extractives and holocellulose), elemental (C, H, N, S and O), immediate (fixed carbon, volatiles and ash), energy (higher heating value and lower heating value), physical (basic density and energy density) and thermal (thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis), besides the morphological characterization by scanning electron microscopy. Babassu nut residues showed a high bioenergy potential, mainly due to their high energy density. The use of this biomass as a bioenergy source can be highly feasible, given their chemical and thermal characteristics, combined with a low ash content. Babassu nut shell showed a high basic density and a suitable lignin content for the sustainable production of bioenergy and charcoal, capable of replacing coke in Brazilian steel plants.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciências Florestais, Universidade Federal de Lavras - UFLA, Câmpus Universitário s/n, Caixa Postal: 3037 Lavras, MG Brazil.
authors.forename: Thiago
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: de Paula Protásio
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciências Florestais, Universidade Federal de Lavras - UFLA, Câmpus Universitário s/n, Caixa Postal: 3037 Lavras, MG Brazil.
authors.forename: Paulo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fernando Trugilho
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciências Florestais, Universidade Federal de Lavras - UFLA, Câmpus Universitário s/n, Caixa Postal: 3037 Lavras, MG Brazil.
authors.forename: Antônia Amanda
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: da Silva César
authors.affiliation: Centre de Coopération Internationale En Recherche Agronomique Pour Le Dévelopment - CIRAD, Biomass, Wood, Energy, Bioproducts Unit (BioWooEB), Rue Jean-François Breton, 34398 Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Napoli
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciências Florestais, Universidade Federal de Lavras - UFLA, Câmpus Universitário s/n, Caixa Postal: 3037 Lavras, MG Brazil.
authors.forename: Isabel Cristina Nogueira
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Alves de Melo
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal Rural da Amazônia - UFRA, Avenida Tancredo Neves, n. 2501, Caixa Postal: 917 Belém, PA Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gomes da Silva
keywords: Alternative biofuel; Babassu; Biomass; Characterization; Charcoal
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