Abstract
This study quantifies the extraction performance and some properties of the lignin obtained from six crops with potential for generating thermal energy in Brazil. A full factorial design (22) with four replicates including two extraction methods and two particles size distributions was adopted for assessing the fraction of lignin, as well as its Higher Heating Value (HHV) and composition given by the proximate and ultimate analysis. It was verified that in all cases the HHV of the lignin is greater than that obtained for the respective raw material, suggesting that these lignins could be also used as fuel in thermochemical processes. The ANOVA analysis showed that at 95% of confidence level the lignin yield is influenced by the extraction methods, which employ different pH values during the hydrolysis treatment. In addition, it was found that, in most cases, a smaller biomass particle size contributed to more effective lignin extraction. Response surfaces were also included in order to show tendencies of the lignin yield obtained for each raw material in function of the pH value used by the extraction method and the biomass particle size range.
Highlights
It is well known that biologically derived fuels may replace part of the traditional fossil fuels consumption, such as oil or coal
The lignins obtained from the elephant grass, corn and wheat straws evidenced the major levels of fixed carbon and in all cases, the fixed carbon values in the lignin were higher than those observed for the respective raw material
In this study the yield and some properties of lignins obtained from several energy crops grows in Brazil were assessed in function of the lignin extraction method and the biomass particle size
Summary
It is well known that biologically derived fuels may replace part of the traditional fossil fuels consumption, such as oil or coal. Applying agricultural techniques and appropriate strategies for processing, biofuels may offer at least 50% of savings in atmospheric emissions, when compared to the petroleum derivates. Biofuels produced from crops are considered renewable sources of thermal energy (Serna et al, 2011). In last year’s, the production of green fuels, such as ethanol and others produced from biomass has gained prominence in several countries. If the ethanol industry focused on the second generation in these nations grows, enormous amounts of lignins will be discharged as phenol wastes (Kim et al, 2009). Lignin is expected to play an important role in the near future, being utilized to produce energy and by-products (Sena-Martins et al, 2008; Hage et al, 2009; Matsushita et al, 2013)
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