Improper waste disposal is one of the leading causes of environmental pollution, impacting soil, water, and air quality. In coffee plantations, each kilogram of beans produced generates an equal amount of husk, emphasizing the urgent need for sustainable practices to process this residual biomass into valued products. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of coffee husks for pellet production. Three coffee husk types were selected with distinct chemical compositions and granulometries: I (>5.3 mm), II (>2.6 mm and <5.3 mm), and III (<1.77 mm). The biomass was characterized for elemental, structural, and proximate composition. Pellets were produced with two knife heights (15 and 20 mm) and assessed for moisture content, density, length, and mechanical resistance, which were compared with the EN 14691-6 standard (DIN, 2012). Pelletizer productivity was also evaluated. Pellets from biomass III had an ash content of 12.09%, exceeding the <10% requirement. Other treatments met the ash content standard, category B. Pellets from biomass I (17.55%) and II (18.1%) at 15 mm length did not meet the <15% moisture content standard. The remaining pellets met category B standards. Only pellets from origin III (1.62%) met the nitrogen content requirement for international trade (<2%). Pelletizer productivity was higher with smaller granulometry biomass. Coffee husk has demonstrated its potential for pellet production, highlighting the valorization and use of this waste for clean energy generation, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions mitigation, and strengthening circular economy.

Wood from planted forests is the main input in the charcoal production chain. However, the heterogeneity of charcoal, in terms of its physical, chemical and mechanical properties, and the low yield in production processes is among the main problems faced by industries. To select the best clones for the production of charcoal for steelmaking, the objective of this work was to evaluate the properties of wood, in addition to the yield and quality of charcoal from different genotypes of Eucalyptus and Corymbia. Five clones of Eucalyptus spp., 8 years old and one of Corymbia torelliana x Corymbia citriodora, 4 years old were studied. In the wood were determined the basic density, structural chemical composition, thermogravimetric analysis (TG/DTG), crystallinity index and higher heating value. Carbonizations were carried out in a muffle oven, with a total time of 270 minutes, starting at 150°C and ending at 450°C. The gravimetric yield, apparent density, higher heating value and proximate analysis of charcoal were determined. The wood basic density varied between 477 and 652 kg/m³, with the highest value observed for the Eucalyptus cloeziana clone. This clone also had the highest total lignin content (32.6%), the highest charcoal yield (36.3%) and charcoal with the highest apparent density (466 kg/m³). The two clones of Eucalyptus urophylla had the highest heating value for charcoal, whose mean was 7545 kcal/kg. The clone of Corymbia torelliana x Corymbia citriodora, having an apparent density greater than 500 kg/m³ at 4 years of age, stood out in terms of productivity. All evaluated clones have potential for charcoal production, however, the Eucalyptus cloeziana clone stood out positively, being the most suitable for charcoal production.

The genus Corymbia appears as an option to produce best quality charcoal. The selection of genotypes through multivariate analysis can be a solution when multiple variables influence the result. The aim of this study was to characterize eight genotypes of Corymbia citriodora x Corymbia torelliana for energy and charcoal production, group and indicate the genetic materials with highest potential. The woods specific gravity, high heating value and energy density was determined. Energy density was grouped by the Scott-Knott test; group 1 was appointed for energy generation. The wood was carbonized. Charcoal yield, density, fixed carbon, friability, higher heating value, ash content, fixed carbon yield and energy density were determined. Principal component analysis was performed. Principal component 3 was chosen, as the representation of the ideal genetic material. The scores were calculated, and genetic materials III, VI and VIII are selected for charcoal production. The selection has shown to be efficient.

Pyrolysis is a promising technology for thermal conversion of lignocellulosic biomasses into a higher added value fuel. The aim of this study was to analyze the potential of four agroforestry biomasses to produce energy as a raw material or as a bio-coal. In this study, slow pyrolysis was conducted in three final temperatures to evaluate the bio-coal production of four agroforestry biomasses widely available in Brazil. The biomasses used were sugarcane bagasse (Saccharum sp.), bamboo (Dendrocalamus giganteus), straw bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) and eucalypts wood chips (Eucalyptus sp.). In the first part was presented the raw biomasses proprieties, such as lignin, carbon, hydrogen and ash contents. In the second part was showed the bio-coal proprieties, such as gravimetric and fixed carbon yields, fixed carbon and ash contents. These bio-coal results were showed as a function of final temperature of pyrolysis. The best energy indicators for bio-coal production, such as fixed carbon yield, high heating value, was observed in the bamboo and eucalypts. The bagasse and straw bean biomasses have high concentrations of ash and low lignin content when compared with the other biomasses assessed and are less suitable to produce bio-coal.

Brazil is a large producer of sawmill wastes, commonly used to supply boilers and produce energy. In order to reduce unwanted characteristics of the material, thermochemical conversions through carbonization is an alternative. The aim of this study is to characterize the energetic proprieties of raw biomass and pyrolyzed biomass of sawmill residues. In order to analyze the environmental impact in the emission of pyrolysis gases, the behavior of gases during the thermic treatment was determined. Eucalyptus sp. and Pinus sp. residues slow pyrolysis was performed in an electric kiln, whose gases were conducted through a condensable gas recovery system and an online gas analyzer. The charcoal, bio-oil and non-condensable gases yields were estimated. The wood’s and charcoal’s proximate analysis (extractives, lignin, holocellulosis, ash content), higher heating value, equilibrium moisture and density were appraised. The wood’s chemical components were esteemed. Hardwood and softwood’s charcoal presented several differences, especially in yields due to types of lignin. Hardwoods produce a higher amount of acetic acid in slow pyrolysis. This acid was converted, mainly, in carbon dioxide and e a minor extent in methane and carbon monoxide. The gas release was affected by the temperature and wood’s composition. The main gases resulting from the slow pyrolysis of wood are CO2, CO, CH4, H2. The emission of this gases to the atmosphere in addition to increasing the environmental impact caused by the industry is still a waste of energy that could be harnessed more efficiently. Pyrolysis increased the energetic characteristics of sawmill waste. However, in spite of the advantages of carbonization, ways to mitigate the emission of gases emitted in an operational scale should be evaluated.

Aplicação da análise termogravimétrica como ferramenta de pré-seleção de Eucalyptus spp. - DOI:10.5039/agraria.v14i3a6363