Estudo do impacto do nitrato de celulose obtido do bagaço de cana de açucar na melhoria da ignição de briquetes de serradura

Abstract

This study looked at the effect of cellulose nitrate (NC), made from sugarcane bagasse, when used as a coating to reduce the ignition delay of sawdust briquettes. The research addresses the problem of low flammability in briquettes, which limits their use as a sustainable alternative to traditional fuels. Laboratory tests were carried out to check if NC can work as an ignition aid for sawdust briquettes. Two types of NC were tested: residual sample (NCR) and simple sample (NCS). The NCR coating was effective in reducing ignition time for briquettes weighing 35 g and 40 g, without changing their thermal or structural properties. In contrast, NCS gave poor results, showing the need for changes in its formula and application method. Thermal tests showed similar maximum combustion temperatures for all briquettes: 602 °C for uncoated, 589 °C for NCR-coated, and 552 °C for NCS-coated. Coated briquettes burned more slowly, especially those with NCS, because of the double layer (NC + briquette). For overall performance (ICOM), the uncoated briquette had the lowest value (0.48), while NCR showed the best balance between fast ignition and controlled burning. NCS had limitations due to the application process and the need for a binder, which reduced its reactivity. These results confirm that NC has strong potential as a practical and efficient way to improve briquette surface flammability and reduce ignition time.