Biomass fuel quality from Eucalyptus species in short rotation systems

Using biomass of forest origin to obtain solid, liquid, and gaseous fuels has demonstrated its potential both at an experimental level and in commercial situations. Where the composition of the biomass used affects the quality of the fuel produced, for example, in thermochemical processes; therefore, it is relevant to know the properties of the different biomass fractions of forest energy crops derived from the different species of Eucalyptus . This framework evaluated the energetic parameters of Eucalyptus benthamii, Eucalyptus dunnii , and Eucalyptus grandis planted at densities of 2220, 3330, 4440, and 6660 trees per hectare and evaluated 56 months after planting. In the wood of the stump, the essential density of the wood, the heating value, and the ash content were determined, with which the fuel value index was calculated. The wood, bark, and leaves and their elemental chemical composition and heating value were evaluated. These results were contrasted by analyzing the variance between species and plantation densities. In addition, models were developed and evaluated to estimate the heating value based on each biomass type's chemical composition. The results showed similarities between the biomass of different Eucalyptus species, the absence of effects due to planting density, and that the carbon, oxygen, and ash contents are essential for more excellent calorific value. The biomass of all species have an interesting potential for pyrolysis and gasification processes, however E. grandis is the species that combines the best results. The prediction models for the heating value of the different biomass fractions have an attractive precision based on the elements above.