Charcoal from native woods of the cerrado in steel and energy applications

Abstract

The international quality of Brazilian steel is the reason for the use of charcoal in the steelmaking process, with Mato Grosso do Sul the largest national producer in 2011 (~356 thousand tons). The objective of this article is to evaluate the energy quality of this solid biofuel from native species wood (vegetable suppression, without deforestation) and geographic availability, to meet regional demand from the steel, ceramic, energy and related industries. The methodology considered the IBGE database (2007-2016), quality determination (SCV, immediate and elemental analysis) and comparison with charcoal parameters of other native species, planted and residual biomass. Results indicate: a) Mato Grosso do Sul is one of the 4th largest annual producers, and 2nd largest national producer (2007-2016); b) The most productive microregions are “Aquidauana” (~21%) and “Três Lagoas” (~23%); c) Geographical distribution of current production is balanced in the Central North (~34%), East (~30%) and Pantanal (~25%) mesoregions; d) Regional production is of medium quality, with TCZ~0.9%, TUM,BU~5%,TMV~33%, TCF~66%; PCS~20.7MJ.kg-1(↓ TCF),TH~5.0%,TO~3.9% and TC~86.3%, with C/H~17.3; e) Potential to improve quality (↑TCF, ↓TMV and ↑PCS) and productivity (ηGravimetric, %).