ANALYSIS CALORIFIC VALUE ANALISYS OF EXTRUDED MACAÚBA BRIQUETTES AT DIFFERENT TEMPERATURES

The full use of agricultural crops allows the use of the circular economy, with relevant impacts on increasing energy efficiency and sustainability in production systems. The macaúba (Acrocomia aculeata) is an oilseed palm (Arecaceae), which has aroused the interest of researchers, farmers and entrepreneurs stimulated by decarbonization policies. In addition to liquid biofuels made from macaúba oils, the densification of its biomass in pellets or briquettes can also lend itself to the production of raw material for feeding boilers.

In a specific study carried out at the Energy Research Platform of the Federal University of Lavras - PLAPE/UFLA, a densification of residual biomass from the processing of macaúba coconut (Acrocomia aculeata) was carried out in a briquettes extruder at different temperatures, which were later submitted to the analysis of the calorific value. The residual biomass, composed of a mixture of endocarp and epicarp ground in a forage crusher with 1.8mm sieves, was homogenized and equalized in water content between 10-12%. The material was subjected to the briquetting process in a briquette extruder driven by a 7.5 hp electric motor and equipped with a resistance for temperature control in the communication tube. The material was divided into 5 (five) replicates for each temperature one of the 3 (three) extrusion temperatures corresponding to the treatments: T1, 250Cº; T2, 300Cº; T3, 320ºC, and Control (T0), represented by the biomass used prior to the briquetting process