Wood composition and charcoal of Eucalyptus urophylla in different planting locations

Abstract

This work aimed to evaluate the effect of planting sites on the elemental chemical composition of Eucalyptus urophylla wood and the quality of its charcoal and to verify the statistical relations among the properties measured in wood and charcoal. It was used twelve 7-years old trees from E. urophylla clone from Curvelo, Itacambira and Turmalina counties located in Minas Gerais State, Brazil. The elemental chemical composition (C, H, N, S and O) of the wood and C/H and C/N relations were determined. The wood was carbonized in a laboratorial muffle furnace. It was determinate the gravimetric yields in charcoal, in pyroligneous extract and, by difference, the non-condensable gases. The apparent relative density, the higher heating value, the proximate chemical composition and the yield in fixed carbon of the charcoals were also determined. The caloric value of charcoal was influenced by its proximate chemical composition. In the wood, it was observed significant effect from site on hydrogen content and C/H relation. The location also influenced the ash content and gravimetric yields in charcoal and fixed carbon, so it is considered important to consider the effect of planting site for charcoal production from the Eucalyptus urophylla clone studied.