Bioethanol production using high density Eucalyptus crops in Uruguay

Experimental scale crops for Eucalyptus grandis, Eucalyptus benthamii, Eucalyptus dunnii and Eucalyptus tereticornis, at 2,220, 4,440 and 6,660 trees ha(−1) were established in two soil units, at Paysandú and Tacuarembó, Uruguay. Wood samples were taken from twenty-two-months-old trees, and were used to produce bioethanol by pre-hydrolysis simultaneous saccharyfication and fermentation process (PSSF). Cellulose and lignin content was analyzed. Species and planting density affected biomass production at both sites; the highest value was obtained with E. dunnii at 6,660 trees ha(−1) at Paysandú. Cellulose content of wood varied between species at both sites, but only between planting densities at Tacuarembó. The site effect showed that the highest amount of cellulose (14.7 Mg ha(−1)) was produced at Paysandú. E. benthamii and E. tereticornis wood showed higher lignin contents, conversely, the PSSF yields showed no differences, which led to a bioethanol average of 97 L Mg(−1). Bioethanol productivity was associated to the biomass productivity. It was possible to obtain 2,650 L ha(−1) of bioethanol using wood from E. benthamii, E. dunnii and E. grandis at 4,440 and 6,660 trees ha(−1) at Paysandú, and with E. benthamii at 4,440 and 6,660 trees ha(−1), and E. dunnii at 6,660 trees ha(−1) at Tacuarembó.