The Luiz de Queiroz School of Higher Studies in Agriculture at the University of São Paulo has developed a technique to increase the energy production capacity of sugar cane and eucalyptus waste. These biomass materials were subjected to four different heat treatments: 250 degrees Celsius for 30 minutes; 250 degrees for two hours; 280 degrees for 30 minutes; and 280 degrees for two hours.

The treatment increased the durability and reduced the moisture content of the plant wastes, resulting in a greater concentration of energy.

“Calorific power, which is the amount of energy released per unit of mass, increased proportionally with the rise in temperature,” explained engineer Juliana Siviero dos Santos, who headed up the research.

“The greatest increase was observed in the eucalyptus waste that was treated at 280 degrees for two hours, with a 25.7 percent increase in its calorific power,” she told Tierramérica. “The increase observed in the sugar cane bagasse was 10.2 percent.”