Characterization and Drying of Lignocellulosic Biomass from Southern Espírito Santo for the Production of Bioadsorbents and Solid Biofuels
 

The investigation of lignocellulosic biomass presents several challenges, particularly regarding the characterization and proper treatment of these materials due to their great natural diversity. The physical and chemical properties of these biomasses are determined through methodologies involving complex analyses, often difficult to measure experimentally and requiring specialized equipment. Additionally, the presence of moisture negatively affects the quality of the resulting bioproducts, making drying a critical step in biomass pretreatment.

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In this context, the project aims to study the characterization and drying of various lignocellulosic residues, specifically banana pseudostems, orange bagasse, and coffee husks. The study seeks to assess the potential of these biomasses for the production of charcoal for use as solid biofuel and for obtaining bioadsorbents applied to the treatment of aqueous media.

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The proposed methodology will follow internationally recognized standards such as ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) and TAPPI (Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry) to determine the content of extractives, lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose. Analyses will also be conducted to determine physical properties, such as specific mass, as well as proximate analyses to quantify total moisture, volatile matter, ash, and fixed carbon of the biomasses in both raw and dried conditions.

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Sample standardization will involve equipment such as knife mills and industrial blenders. The drying process will be carried out in convective dryers, evaluating operational parameters such as air temperature and velocity through experimental tests. After drying, the biomasses will be pelletized to obtain solid material for subsequent characterization of energy density.

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For bioadsorbent production, the dried biomass will undergo pyrolysis or carbonization in a muffle furnace. The resulting material will be applied in adsorption columns to evaluate the removal of emerging contaminants in aqueous media, such as pharmaceuticals and textile dyes.

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The results are expected to expand knowledge on the properties of the studied biomasses and assess the quality of the bioproducts in terms of energy potential and adsorption capacity. Furthermore, the project aims to strengthen UFES’s laboratory infrastructure, expand human resource training, boost technical-scientific production, and consolidate the research lines of the Graduate Program in Chemical Engineering (PPEQ). It is also expected to foster scientific cooperation with other institutions, promoting new research approaches and future scientific publications.

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Status: Ongoing
Type: Research

Members: Robson Costa de Sousa (Coordinator); José Teixeira Freire; Fabio Bentes Freire; Ariany Binda Silva Costa; Iara Rebouças Pinheiro; Hugo Perazzini; Vitória Carolina Imbassay de Campos; Lucas Meili; Fabricio Gomes Gonçalves; Vinícius Castilholi Castanheira; Hugo Fonseca Brandolini; Jair Carlos Checon de Freitas; Romero Florentino Carvalho; Marcelo Lopes Cocco.