BIOMASS OF Urochloa humidicola AS RAW MATERIAL TO PRODUCE BIOFUEL

Abstract

Due to the worldwide increase in energy demand and concern about global warming and greenhouse gas emissions, the interest in producing biofuels has taken on great importance. The raw materials to produce them is one of the most relevant factors. Of these, lignocellulosic sources and energy crops are preferred as they are not used for human food purposes. In this work, the potential of Urochloa humidicola (Rendle) Morrone & Zuloaga (Sin. Brachiaria humidicola (Rendle) Schweick.) as an input to produce bioethanol was evaluated. Biomass production, chemical composition, calorific value and theoretical bioethanol yield were evaluated at 30, 60, 90 and 120 d after regrowth. A statistical analysis was carried out with the GLM procedure (SAS) and with the Tukey test (P ≤ 0.05) the means of the treatments were compared. The highest biomass production, calorific value, energy production, ADF and LDA (P ≤ 0.05) was detected at 120 d, with 19.5 Mg ha^-1 year^-1, 17.1 MJ kg^-1, 333.9 GJ ha^-1 year^-1, 43.6 % and 6.2 %, respectively. The highest ash and PC content (P ≤ 0.05) were obtained at the cutoff frequency of 30 and 60 d, with 11.7 and 6.9 %, respectively. The highest production of cellulose, hemicelluloses, NDF and bioethanol production (P ≤ 0.05) was reached at 90 d, with 38.3 %, 22.4 %, 65.6 % and 233.6 L Mg^-1 MS, respectively. According to the biomass yield and the chemical composition of the Urochloa humidicola grass, the biomass of this specie can be used as a bioenergetic source in tropical climates.