Energetic valorization of wood residues produced during forest harvesting of eucalyptus and pinus

Abstract

Nowadays, the search of new sources of renewable and less polluting energy than petroleum became essential. Forest residues are an important source of biomass, especially due to its renewable character, abundance, supplying facilities and low cost. Examples of forest residues are: biomass produced during forest harvesting, wood mechanical processes and paper industry. Nevertheless, these residues are extremely heterogeneous and the use of less efficient techniques of transformation provides some problems for its use for energy proposes. Techniques that give a better control of the biomass transformation will provide important socio-economical outcomes. The heat treatment is an interesting process, which homogenizes the biomass, improves the physical characteristics and concentrates the energy of the final product in a short time, low heating rate and moderate temperature. The main objective of the present project is the energetic valorization of forest residues generated during forest harvesting by heat treatment. Due to its economical importance and the large amount of biomass generated, this work will be focused in residues produced during harvesting of eucalyptus and pinus forests. (AU)