Bioethanol production using high density crops in Uruguay.

Experimental scale crops for , , and , at 2,220, 4,440 and 6,660 trees ha 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 at 6,660 trees ha 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) was produced at Paysandú. and wood showed higher lignin contents, conversely, the PSSF yields showed no differences, which led to a bioethanol average of 97 L Mg. Bioethanol productivity was associated to the biomass productivity. It was possible to obtain 2,650 L ha of bioethanol using wood from , and at 4,440 and 6,660 trees ha at Paysandú, and with at 4,440 and 6,660 trees ha, and at 6,660 trees ha at Tacuarembó.