Otimização da biossecagem pulsante da biomassa de laranja em leito fixo

Abstract

This study evaluated the effects of intermittent air flow on the thermal development and moisture removal during the biodrying process, aiming at the valorization of industrial biomass. The experiments were carried out in a fixed-bed bios drying experimental unit, with monitoring of bed temperature, air flow rate, and mass loss. The results demonstrated that increasing the air flow rate enhanced mass transfer and water removal from the material; however, its effect was directly related to the initial conditions of the system, such as the level of biological activity. It was observed that higher air flow rates did not necessarily result in greater drying efficiency, highlighting the importance of balancing heat transfer, moisture removal, and microbial activity. Furthermore, the analysis of the experiments indicated that biological heat generation, even from native microorganisms, has the potential to sustain the thermal conditions of the process. Therefore, it is concluded that bios drying presents potential as a sustainable alternative for the pre-treatment of orange bagasse, contributing to biomass moisture reduction and expanding its possibilities for energy applications.