Energy quality of waste from Brazil nut (bertholletia excelsa), in the state of Pará

Abstract

The amount of residues that are discarded from Brazil nuts generated in the extraction of a fruit is 1.6 kg of bark and 2 kg of hedgehog. An alternative use for such waste is the production of energy. Therefore, the objective of this work was to evaluate the energy properties of Brazil nut shell, as well as the gravimetric yield of charcoal produced from this residue, in order to know its energy potential. Chestnut residues were collected in the municipality of Castanhal-PA. The gravimetric yield was determined by the mass of the dry coal divided by the mass of the dry biomass, multiplied by 100. The in natura material was charred in a Mufla type oven with a temperature of 450º for 60 minutes. The upper calorific power (UCP) was determined according to the standard ABNT NBR 8633/84 and according to the manual of the calorimeter PARR 1201, besides the determination of the lower calorific power (LCP) and the net calorific power (NCP). The result of the gravimetric yield of the carbonization found for the residues of Bertholletiaexcelsa was 41.67%. The upper calorific power for coal was 7092.5 kcal /kg, for lower calorific power, 6905.6 kcal /kg and 6877.4 kcal /kg for net calorific power. These results are related to the chemical and elemental composition of the carbonization, thus determining the potential of the waste to be used for energy purposes.