Abstract

GUTIERREZ, Cynthia E. et al. Total silica content of sugar crop residues (SCR) ashes in Tucuman. Argentina. Rev. ind. agric. Tucumán [online]. 2018, vol.95, n.1, pp.21-26. ISSN 1851-3018.

Biomass as a renewable energy source can replace some of the world's energy demands that are currently satisfied by fossil fuels. Therefore, the study of physical and chemical properties is fundamental when evaluating its possible use as steam boiler fuel. Total silica content (% SiO2) in ashes represents the largest proportion of inert material that constitutes the biomass and could generate erosion corrosion problems and slag formation during the combustion process inside a steam generator. The sugar industry of Tucumán has a significant amount of biomass that could be used for energy purposes; for example, sugar cane crop residues (SCR). Therefore it is necessary to evaluate the content of% SiO2 in this material. The content of% SiO2 has been determined following the gravimetric method indicated in the ASTM E 887-88 standard. We worked with 33 SCR samples collected from different sugarcane fields in Tucumán. A content of% SiO2 was found in a range between 37.90% and 70.20%, with an average of 57.66% and a Coefficient of variation (CV%) of 15.41%. To measure the accuracy of the method used, the percentage recovery (% R) of% SiO2 was studied. It was found in a range between 80.76% to 99.91%, with an average value of 88.48% and a (CV%) of 6.64.

Keywords : energy; biomass; fuel; elemental analysis.

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