Caracterização da composição Lignocelulósica do sisal (Agave sisalana) para produção de etanol.

Abstract

The sisal (Agave sisalana) is a plant grown in semi-desert regions and adapted well to the climate and soil of northeastern Brazil, is today the largest producer and exporter in the world. This study aimed to analyze the composition of sisal (Agave sisalana) for ethanol production. The samples of sisal (fiber, sheet and bagasse) were kindly provided by farmers in the municipality of Nova Foresta-PB. The samples underwent drying process and were ground in a Wiley mill. Was then performed analysis of the composition of sisal determining the moisture content, ashes, cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin and extractives for fiber, leaf and sisal bagasse. The sisal fiber showed higher cellulose content than the leaf and bagasse, and values near hemicellulose, The results of the experiments were similar to those found in the literature. The XRD patterns of the fiber, Bagasse and Sheet Sisal indicated peaks associated to crystalline planes (plan 101, plan 002 and plan 040) characteristic of lignocellulosic materials. Considering the second stage of mass loss of the samples, attributed to the decomposition of cellulose and hemicellulose, the TG data indicated that the sisal fiber sample more stable. Sisal presented as interesting feedstock for ethanol production, because of its high cellulose contente (52.17%) and hemicellulose (20.59%) which after hydrolysis can be fermented to produce ethanol.