Banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO: JONATHAN CHAVES DE LEMOS

Paricá, Agroforestry systems, Combustion, Carbonization

Schizolobium parahyba var. amazonicum (Huber ex Ducke) Barbeby, known as paricá, is a native species of the Amazon region that stands out for its fast growth, easy handling and the energy potential of its wood. However, silvicultural treatments can directly influence the characteristics of the wood, affecting its performance as a bioenergy source. The objective of this study was to evaluate the quality of paricá wood, cultivated at different ages and spacings, with or without association with agriculture for bioenergy purposes. The samples were collected at the Cinco Águas farm, in Abel Figueiredo-PA, in three different silvicultural strata. The collection of the discs was performed according to the Hohenadl method. Physical properties, such as basic density of the wood, were determined, in addition to immediate chemical, molecular, elemental and thermogravimetric analyses. Disc samples with diameters greater than 10 cm will be subjected to carbonization, and the charcoal produced will be analyzed with the same parameters. There was no significant difference between the silvicultural treatments in relation to the basic density of the wood, which presented an overall average of 0.312 g/cm3. However, the treatment with greater spacing (4 x 4) and younger age (5 years) presented relatively higher density values, which suggests that the greater spacing may have positively influenced the basic density and, consequently, the energy density of the wood. There was a statistical difference between the treatments for volatile materials and fixed carbon, which presented general averages of 82.21% and 16.40%, respectively. The ash content did not present a significant difference between the treatments, with a general average of 0.42%. The results demonstrate that, despite its low density, paricá has potential as an alternative biomass energy source for power generation.