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Keywords
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Abstract
Objective: Determine the chemical composition and calorific value of biomass from the stump, stem and branches of Quercus calophylla, Q. glaucoides, Q. laurina, Q. magnoliifolia and Q. rugosa.
Design/methodology/approach:The amount of hemicelluloses, cellulose, lignin and extractable substances was determined in an Ankom fiber analyzer. Among the chemical components, a Pearson correlation analysis was performed, and the higher calorific value was also calculated.
Results: The highest percentage obtained were hemicelluloses 14.72 % in the branches of Q. laurina; cellulose 67.19 % in the stem of Q. calophylla; lignin 21.58 % in the stem of Q. rugosa; extractable substances 13.00 % for the stump of Q. rugosa. Particularly, the correlation between cellulose and hemicelluloses was negative (r=-0.80). The results of the calorific value varied from 19.32 MJ kg-1 in the stump of Q. glaucoides to 20.19 MJ kg-1 in the stem of Q. rugosa.
Limitations on study/implications: The lack of studies on the chemical composition of wood affects the selection of species for use in biofuels. poor selection of raw materials results in inefficient combustion and greater environmental impact.
Findings/conclusions: The five species studied are suitable for use as densified biofuels given their chemical characteristics; however, Q. rugosa is the species with the highest percentage of lignin content, extractable substances in the stem and in the stump, and the highest calorific value, so it is considered to have the greatest potential to produce quality pellets