Researchers from Mato Grosso do Sul and Eldorado Brazil develop fuel based on eucalyptus waste

Researchers from Mato Grosso do Sul, with the aim of reducing methane gas emissions into the atmosphere, have developed a fuel from eucalyptus that can contribute to the production of cellulose itself

Due to the high eucalyptus harvest in Mato Grosso do Sul, researchers in the state are producing a renewable fuel from waste. In addition to offering high performance, it also contributes to sustainability, as it avoids the emission of greenhouse gases. The industrial researchers make up the Senai Biomass Innovation Institute (ISI Biomassa), which is located in Três Lagoas due to the large volume of planted areas to meet the demand of the pulp and paper industries.

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Mato Grosso do Sul is in second place in the national ranking of cultivated areas

According to the Brazilian Institute of Trees (IBA), in 2020, there were around 1,13 million hectares of eucalyptus planted. It is worth mentioning that MS is in second place in the national ranking of cultivated areas. In addition to producing 5 million tons of pulp per year, equivalent to 25% of production in all of Brazil, the state has 1,135 million hectares, according to data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), ComexStat and IBA .

However, eucalyptus that cannot be used rots in the ground and can produce methane gas, which in concentrated quantities can accelerate the increase in global average temperature.

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Observing the great potential of eucalyptus as a renewable fuel, researchers from Mato Grosso do Sul entered into a partnership with Eldorado Brasil Celulose with the aim of producing a fuel called green diesel and another known as biochar. Both can be used in processes of the eucalyptus pulp production cycle, from supplying machines to generating thermal energy.

Researchers from Mato Grosso do Sul explain the project that originated the fuel from eucalyptus residues

The project was named “Forest4fuel” and was approved in a public notice by the Mato Grosso do Sul Education, Science and Technology Support Foundation (Fundect).

Thiago Hendrigo de Almeida, one of the researchers and creators of the eucalyptus fuel project, explains the theory that gave rise to the idea. According to the founder, eucalyptus roots and stumps are rich in lignin, which provides the plant with mechanical strength. It is known that, from the pyrolysis of these materials, biochar and heavy bio-oil are produced, so the research proposes a proof of concept, that is, making real what is already known in theory.

The industrial researcher also comments on the various benefits generated by eucalyptus fuel. When the plot is free of residues, the next planting cycle is even faster. In addition, the research also promotes the reduction in the emission of greenhouse gases.

Innovating in the Brazilian industry, Paraná plant starts to produce ethanol from corn

Due to the severe drought that occurred in the last harvest of sugar cane, a plant in Paraná started to produce ethanol from corn, while others have their production completely paralyzed.

With corn, it is possible to produce even more fuel per day, in addition to using less labor, which is a huge advantage. However, despite the high production, the profit margin of ethanol from corn is still lower than that of ethanol from sugarcane.