ABSTRACT
This study aimed to determine the quality of charcoal for domestic consumption, marketed in the southern mountain region of Santa Catarina. Twelve brands of charcoal sold in the AMURES (Association of Municipalities of the Mountain Region) and Curitibanos region were collected. The general characteristics of packaging and certain physical and energetic properties of each of the brands were described and analyzed. The properties analyzed were: apparent relative density, moisture content, calorific value, fixed carbon content, volatile and ash. The brands sold in the region are from the states of Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul and Parana. The black wattle and eucalyptus are most commonly used for the production of charcoal. There is no standard information in packagings. The charcoal showed high relative density (0.403 g/cm 3); high moisture content (7.35%); with an average gross calorific value of 6449 kcal/kg, with a lot of variation between samples; high volatile and ash content and low fixed carbon content (32.85%, 1.96% and 65.17%, respectively). The production and consumption of charcoal in southern Santa Catarina plateau is regionalized, without standardization of packaging and with records in environmental supervisory bodies. The quality of charcoal sold in the region is low.
Relative density; Gross calorific value; Barbecue