Furnace-kiln system: how does the use of new technologies in charcoal production affect the carbon balance?

Abstract

Most of the Brazilian charcoal is produced in rudimentary kilns without greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) control. The furnace-kiln system, which allows the burning of methane, stands out in this context. Thus, the goal of this study was to evaluate the carbon balance in the charcoal production with and without the use of the furnace-kiln system. The study was conducted in a farm in Lamim, State of Minas Gerais - Brazil. The average annual carbon increment (AACI) was calculated based on two forest inventories. The GHG emissions related to the eucalyptus forest were calculated based on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories. The collection and quantification of gases emitted during the wood carbonization were carried out using a gas analyser. The annual carbon balance was calculated using the AACI of the eucalyptus forest, the farm annual emissions, and the charcoal production emissions with and without methane burning. The farm carbon balance without methane burning was 13.9465 MgCO2e ha−1 and with methane burning was 15.9616 MgCO2e ha−1. Thus, the replacement of traditional kilns by the furnace-kiln system was shown to be effective to reduce the emissions established in the Paris Agreement in the Brazilian steel sector.