Environmental-economic assessment of lignocellulosic residual from the Legal Amazon for conversion in biochars and bioproducts for biorefineries

Abstract

Biochars are emerging ecological products that show excellent properties in areas such as carbon sequestration, soil improvement, bioremediation, activated carbon and bioenergy. These interesting materials can be synthesized from a wide variety of sources derived from waste, including lignocellulosic biomass waste. In this work, biochars were produced from residues from the Brazilian Amazon, such as green coconut, babassu and Brazil nuts. The synthesis of biochars was performed under pyrolysis conditions with a fixed time of 3 h and temperature variation of 250 ºC (T1) and 400 ºC (T2). Yields of biochar production >85%, carbon contents >56%, and oxygen contents >20% and calorific values >23 MJ.Kg -1 , demonstrate that biochars produced from residual biomass can be used as activated carbon and also as fertilizers in soils, thus adding value to such residues. Besides, the biomasses used were characterized and the achieved remarkable yields of fermentable sugars, reaching up to 70% in cellulose hydrolysis, which can be useful in the production of bioproducts. In addition, the efficient use of these biomasses will positively impact the productive chains involved, benefiting society, generating employment, income, Besides as mitigating an environmental liability.

Socioeconomic analysis of bioproducts derived from babassu nut breakers pyrolysis in legal amazonia communities

“…The physicochemical composition of babassu mesocarp has already been presented in other work (Santana et al, 2020). The holocellulose content is satisfactory (67.7%), with low extractive content (2.37%), and intermediate lignin values (30%).…”

“…In a similar situation, Romão et al (2022), using green coconut biomass and discarding transportation and energy costs, obtained an income of US $81,017.48. The feasibility of biochar co-production and Santana et al (2020) discovered a profit of US $12,131.73 under similar conditions,, ignoring energy and transportation costs. It should be noted that the products obtained are without emulsion and that, to reach these values, they need separation and purification steps, changing the cost of the process.…”

“…The pH values found in the biochar and bio-oil were 6.7 and 3.0, respectively, and the densities were 1.43 and 1.49, respectively. Other data obtained from the pyrolysis of babassu coconuts, such as elemental analysis, calorific value, and functional groups of the biochar surface, were studied in other work, indicating good biochar stability with a neutral pH in nature, and therefore, suitability for use in soil (Santana et al, 2020).…”

Analysis of the potential of cupuaçu husks (Theobroma grandiflorum) as raw material for the synthesis of bioproducts and energy generation

“…The samples were performed in triplicate, and previously filtered in a 0.22 μm polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) syringe. The sugar content was calculated according to Santana et al (2020).…”

“…Subsequently, the main components of bio-oil were considered, as well as quantitative yields acquired by hydrolysis of high valueadded by-products (FF, LA, HMF). Additionally, the market value of each product was determined after deducting the costs of acid reagent (hydrolysis) and excluding the costs of electricity and raw biomass (Santana et al, 2020). The theoretical energy potential of bio-oil was calculated in Equation 1 to assess the potential for energy production of cupuaçu husks, as described by Milian-Luperón et al (2020).…”