ABSTRACT
Charcoal is a product of great importance in the Brazilian economy, a fact linked to its use as a renewable energy source and reducing the steel industry. Efforts have been made aiming at improving the production process of charcoal, which can be obtained in different furnace types with varying yield and quality. Taking these factors into consideration, the aim of this study was to survey the characteristics relating to the carbonization plant belonging to the Saint Gobain Ltda. company, in the city of Seropédica/Rio de Janeiro-Brazil and chemically analyze the coal produced. The data were obtained through a questionnaire and compared to the other two companies in the same industrial segment. The analysis of charcoal samples was conducted in the laboratory through chemical analysis. The furnaces used in charcoal production in existing carbonization plant analyzed company are characterized as surface furnaces with chimney. The average output of the conversion of wood charcoal was 50%. Compared to other carbonization systems, the company analyzed showed intermediate values in terms of process yield and charcoal produced is considered good quality, with high fixed carbon content (82.70%) and low ash content (1,30%).
renewable energy; steel industry; fuelwood
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