Segregating Amazonia logging wastes from sustainable forest management improves carbonization in brick kilns

Abstract

Carbonizing Amazon wood waste with similar physical, chemical, and energy properties improves the quality of the derived charcoals. However, the effect of a quality-based grouping of wood on the productivity of a charcoal production unit remains an unfulfilled gap. This research compares the carbonization indexes of segregated and non-segregated wastes performed in brick kilns of an industrial facility in the Brazilian Amazonia. The wastes came from the Reduced Impact Exploration of twenty-three Amazonia species. Wood's physical properties (moisture, basic and apparent densities, and maximum moisture content) were determined by species. Segregating the wastes into four quality groups provided alternative carbonization, while the randomly mixed wastes underwent carbonization as the usual methodology. Overall productivity and productivity per kiln were explored for the five carbonization models. The research revealed that segregating the logging wastes raised the filled mass and volume of raw material, productivity, and carbonization yield per kiln. It promoted gains ranging from 6.81 (group 3) to 30.23% (group 1) for the charcoal volume and 17.65 (group 4) to 70.59% (group 1) for the charcoal mass per kiln. This study revealed a practical and straightforward solution to improve the sustainability and effectiveness of the wood production chain in the Amazonia region.