Abstract

The aim of this work is to characterize banana tree residues and use it in pulping and combustion processes. The soda-anthraquinone pulping of the banana tree residues can be simulated by polynomial models, and then predict the pulp properties (yield, Kappa number, viscosity and brightness) as a function of operating variables (temperature 160 to 180°C, time 40 to 60 min and soda concentration 7.5 to 12.5%) with errors less than 20%. Operating under optimal conditions (160°C, 40 min and 7.5% soda), a pulp with 39.23% yield, 28.59 Kappa number, 48.25% brightness, 1149 ml/g viscosity, 48.0 Nm/g tensile index, 3.80 kN/g burst index and 4.83 mNm²/g tear index was obtained. On the other hand, heating values ​​(17751 kJ/kg), the flame temperature (1300 to 2400°C) and dew point temperature (48 to 54°C), of the different values of excess air used (10 to 50%)  in combustion of the banana tree residues were determined and compared with other non-wood lignocellulosic materials. As a consequence, the price of energy obtained by combustion of these residues (3.38 10^-6 €/kJ) was less than the price of coal (25.94 10^-6 €/kJ) and much lower than those of fluid fossil fuels (>37.67 10^-6 €/kJ).

Key words: Banana tree residues, pulp, paper, combustion.