Author(s)

Adenes Teixeira Alves^1*, Lucieta Guerreiro Martorano², Gelson Dias Florentino³, Dimas José Lasmar¹, Íres Paula de Andrade Miranda⁴, Leila Sheila Lisboa⁵, Jamal da Silva Chaar¹

¹Federal University of Amazonas-UFAM, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil.
²Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA) Eastern Amazon (CPATU/NAPT), Santarém, Pará, Brazil.
³Biodiversity and Biotechnology Network of the Legal Amazon (Bionorte), Belém, Pará, Brazil.
⁴National Institute for Amazon Research (INPA), Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil.
⁵Geoprocessing, Belém, Pará, Brazil.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the spatial and temporal dynamics of the process of combustion of fruits of the Brazil nut tree (Bertholletia excelsa Bonpl.) using thermographic images in order to characterize the potential of this biomass as an energy source for use in ceramic kilns. Infrared thermography was used as a diagnostic tool, and the trial was conducted in November 2018, in two blocks with two repetitions in each, with the fruits organized so that the cavity was oriented upward and also downward. The thermograms were analyzed using Flir Tools (6.3 v). The temperatures were the highest in the center of the fruits (>160°C), attaining incandescence in 6 min 30 s. Heat was propagated from the center to the edge, and this process was quicker for fruits with their cavities pointed upward. A second order polynomial model explained combustion time with a maximum duration of 7.2 minutes. The thermographic diagnostic has the potential to be used in management strategies for this biomass as an energy source, thus aggregating value to the residuals that are normally left in the forest during harvest by extractivists.

Residual Biomass, Thermographic Patterns, Non-Wood Forest Products

Alves, A. , Martorano, L. , Florentino, G. , Lasmar, D. , Miranda, Í. , Lisboa, L. and da Silva Chaar, J. (2020) Thermal Diagnosis of Heat Conduction and Combustion Time of Fruits of the Brazil Nut Tree (Bertholletia excelsa Bonpl.). Advances in Bioscience and Biotechnology, 11, 60-71. doi: 10.4236/abb.2020.112005.