RESUMO A América Latina possui um considerável potencial na produção de biomassa, se destacando principalmente pela utilização de seus resíduos, sendo o Brasil um dos representantes mais importantes na geração de energia proveniente dessas fontes renováveis. Nesse sentido, esse trabalho aborda a biomassa de eucalipto, na forma de resíduo, como uma fonte promissora e de baixo custo para produção de energia e de produtos químicos. O objetivo do trabalho é realizar a pirólise rápida a temperatura de 500 °C na presença de catalisador mesoporoso Al-MCM-41 visando avaliar o rendimento das fases (bio-óleo, bio-gás e bio-carvão), bem como analisar os produtos gerados na fase líquida utilizando um cromatógrafo a gás com um espectrômetro de massas acoplado. Foram realizadas caracterizações por microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV) e fluorescência de raios X (FRX) para o catalisador e a biomassa, além de análise elementar, imediata, poder calorífico e análise termogravimétrica (ATG) para o eucalipto. Foram obtidos rendimentos de bio-óleo, bio-gás e bio-carvão, compatíveis com a literatura, além de comprovar que a presença do catalisador influencia de forma direta nesta distribuição. Os principais compostos identificados foram o ácido acético, 1-hidroxi - 2-propanona, 1-1-dietoxi-etano, furfural, confirmando a importância do processo para obtenção de produtos químicos.

ABSTRACT Latin America has considerable potential in the production of biomass, mainly for the use of its waste, Brazil being one of the most important representatives in the generation of energy from these renewable sources. In this sense, the paper approaches eucalyptus biomass, in the form of residue, as a promising source of low cost for the production of energy and chemical products. The objective of this work is to perform the fast pyrolysis at 500 °C in the presence of mesoporous Al-MCM-41 catalyst to evaluate the performance of the phases (bio-oil, biogas and bio-coal), as well as to analyze the products generated in the liquid phase using a gas chromatograph with a coupled mass spectrometer. The catalysts and the biomass were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray fluorescence (FRX). Elemental analysis, immediate analysis, calorific value and thermogravimetric analysis were performed for eucalyptus. Bio-oil, bio-gas and bio-carbon yields were obtained, compatible with the literature, besides proving that the presence of the catalyst influences directly in this distribution. The main compounds identified were acetic acid, 1-hydroxy-2-propanone, 1-1-diethoxyethane, furfural, confirming the importance of the process for obtaining chemical products.

Palladium catalysts supported on alumina and zirconia were prepared by the impregnation method and calcined at 600 and 1000 ºC. Catalysts were characterized by BET measurements, XRD, XPS, O2-TPD and tested in methane combustion through temperature programmed surface reaction. Alumina supported catalysts were slightly more active than zirconia supported catalysts, but after initial heat treatment at 1000 ºC, zirconia supported palladium catalyst showed better performance above 500 ºC A pattern between temperature interval stability of PdOx species and activity was observed, where better PdOx stability was associated with more active catalysts.

The catalytic combustion of methane on alumina supported palladium catalysts was studied. It has been reported that the activity of the catalyst increases with its time on line, despite of an increase of the palladium particle size. However, different preparation, pretreatment and testing conditions can be the reason for the observed different results. An experimental design, which allows to verify the influence of several parameters at the same time with a good statistical quality, was used. A Plackett-Burman design was selected for the screening of the variables which have an effect on the increase of the catalyst activity.