Carlos Rogério Andrade

Near infrared spectroscopy for estimating Eucalyptus charcoal properties

Steel can be produced from vegetable charcoal used as a thermo reducer in steel blast furnaces. Hence, the metallurgical industry requires new solutions for controlling the quality of their charcoal in order to maintain the same quality standard. The objective of this study was to assess the properties of charcoal by near infrared spectroscopy. Partial least square (PLS) regressions were established for estimating fixed-carbon, volatile matter content and gravimetric yield of charcoal. These models were validated by cross-validations and independent test sets and presented similar performance. PLS-R models obtained from untreated NIR spectra for FCC and VMC yielded promissory statistics [r2p of ∼0.9; root mean squared error of prediction (RMSEP) of ∼3.3%; and ratio of the standard error of prediction to standard deviation (RPD)>3] while the statistics of the calibrations for gravimetric yield had relatively lower magnitude (R2p of ∼0.8, a RMSEP of ∼2.2 and RPD<2). Since new solutions are required for controlling the quality of charcoal with speed and precision, these models can be useful for monitoring charcoal quality in steel industries.

Estimation of the mechanical properties of wood from Eucalyptus urophylla using near infrared spectroscopy

Mechanical properties studies of wood usually involve destructive wood assessments, with time-consuming tests that use large amounts of resource (wood). Although this is not a limiting factor, it could be attenuated by the use of a nondestructive technique known as near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). This technique has been applied to evaluate compounds containing C-H, N-H, S-H or O-H bonds, and involves quick analyses and can be applied to process control tasks. The objective of this work is to use the NIRS technique to obtain calibrations for mechanical properties of Eucalyptus sp. wood. A natural E. urophylla hybrid at age 7 was used as obtained from V&M Florestal crops. Spectra were measured directly in solid wood (radial, tangential and transverse faces) and in ground wood, in diffuse reflectance mode, using a Bruker spectrometer in the 800 to 1,500 nm range. The NIRS technique proved suitable to estimate modulus of elasticity in solid wood, with values r=0.91 and RPD=2.6, and in ground wood, with values r=0.87 and RPD=2.0. Modulus of rupture and compressive strength presented r values below 0.9. First and second derivative pretreatments provided a slight increase in correlation values for the properties in question. Calibrations for different plank faces did not present a defined variation pattern. Solid wood and ground wood presented similar correlation values for all properties.

Características do carvão de um clone de Eucalyptus grandis W. Hill ex Maiden x Eucalyptus urophylla S. T. Blake

Neste trabalho, objetivou-se determinar a variabilidade existente nas caracteristicas do carvao de um clone de Eucalyptus grandis x Eucalyptus urophylla aos 6 anos, plantado no municipio de Martinho Campos, MG. As arvores foram distribuidas em tres classes de diâmetro e a amostragem consistiu na retirada de discos, de 2,5 cm de espessura, a 2%, 10%, 30% e 70% da altura comercial, alem de um a 1,30 m do solo (DAP) e, a partir deste ponto, de metro em metro ate a altura comercial. Foram tomadas amostras ao longo do raio nos discos, considerando os dois lados em relacao a medula. As amostras foram carbonizadas em forno eletrico de laboratorio, sendo determinados os rendimentos e a qualidade do carvao vegetal produzido. Pelos resultados, verificou-se que para a primeira carbonizacao, a classe diametrica influenciou significativamente o rendimento gravimetrico em carvao vegetal, em liquido pirolenhoso e o teor de cinza do carvao vegetal produzido, e que o rendimento em gas nao condensavel, o teor de materiais volateis e o de carbono fixo nao foram influenciados pela classe diametrica; para a segunda carbonizacao o rendimento gravimetrico aumentou da casca para a medula, para todas as classes diametricas e ocorreu reducao dessa caracteristica com a diminuicao das classes diametricas e que os valores de densidade relativa aparente tenderam a aumentar no sentido medula-casca, em todas as classes diametricas.

Desdobramento da Função Qualidade (QFD) na Avaliação da Qualidade do Carvão Vegetal Utilizado para Cocção de Alimentos

Charcoal is widely used for cooking (barbecue) in Brazilian homes. However, its marketing is done without previous survey of the real needs of consumers of this input. The Quality Function Deployment (QFD) is a method suggested for achieving quality by identifying the desires and demands of consumers. The present study aimed to evaluate the applicability of this method in the quality surveying of charcoal for cooking commercialized in the municipality of Piracicaba, Sao Paulo state. The results show that the characteristics related to the packaging of charcoal are among the most important features of the product presentation. From the point of view of the consumer, the QFD methodology was a useful tool for defining the best quality charcoal used for cooking food.

Desdobramento da Função Qualidade (QFD) na Avaliação da Qualidade do Carvão Vegetal Utilizado para Cocção de Alimentos / Quality Function Deployment (QFD) in the Evaluation of Charcoal Quality Used for Food Cooking

Charcoal is widely used for cooking (barbecue) in Brazilian homes. However, its marketing is done without previous survey of the real needs of consumers of this input. The Quality Function Deployment (QFD) is a method suggested for achieving quality by identifying the desires and demands of consumers. The present study aimed to evaluate the applicability of this method in the quality surveying of charcoal for cooking commercialized in the municipality of Piracicaba, Sao Paulo state. The results show that the characteristics related to the packaging of charcoal are among the most important features of the product presentation. From the point of view of the consumer, the QFD methodology was a useful tool for defining the best quality charcoal used for cooking food.

POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS IN THE ORGANIC PHASE EXTRACTED FROM CHARCOAL FOR BARBECUE

1 Received on 12.12.2015 accepted for publication on 11.10.2017. 2 Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Departamento de Ciências Florestais e da Madeira, Jerônimo Monteiro, ES Brasil. E-mail: <ananiasjr@usp.br>. 3 Universidade Federal de Goiás, Curso de Engenharia Florestal, Jataí, GO Brasil. E-mail: <crandrade@usp.br>. 4 Universidade de São Paulo, Departamento de Ciências Florestais, Piracicaba, SP Brasil. E-mail: <jobrito@usp.br> and <ssplira@usp.br>. 5 Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Departamento de Produtos Florestais, Seropedica, RJ Brasil. E-mail: <azarias@ufrrj.br> and <natdias@hotmail.com>. *Corresponding author.

INFLUENCE OF Eucalyptus WOOD ADDITION TO URBAN WOOD WASTE DURING COMBUSTION

This research analyzed the effect of the addition of E. grandis x E. urophylla wood to the wood waste of urban origin (WWU) as a strategy for energy generation. The WWU was collected in transshipment and from a sorting company of civil construction waste in the city of Piracicaba, SP. The wood of eucalyptus was obtained from a 7-year old plantation. Five treatments with proportions (%) of WWU and eucalyptus wood were analyzed: T1 = 100/0, T2 = 75/25, T3 = 50/50, T4 = 25/75 and T5 = 0/100. The treatments had the physical, chemical, immediate characteristics, mineral contaminants rate, and combustion test (ICOM) analyzed. The data were analyzed through the study of variance, correlations, and multivariate hierarchical clusters analysis (HCA). The higher content of extractives, holocellulose, volatile materials, low ash content values, rate of mineral contaminants and high performance for combustion test were observed only for the treatment having exclusively eucalyptus wood (T5). However, the addition of eucalyptus wood in the WWU allowed for the increase of the ICOM of these materials. In this way, the T3 treatment presents as the most recommended for energetic use. INFLUÊNCIA DA ADIÇÃO DE MADEIRA DE EUCALIPTO À RESÍDUOS MADEIREIROS URBANOS FRENTE À COMBUSTÃO RESUMO: Este estudo analisou o efeito da adição de madeira de E. grandis x E. urophylla à resíduos madeireiros de origem urbana (RMOU) como estratégia para geração de energia. Os RMOU foram coletados em uma empresa de transbordo e triagem de resíduos da construção civil (RCC) no município de Piracicaba, SP e a madeira de eucalipto foi obtida a partir de um plantio de sete anos de idade. Foram analisadas cinco tratamentos com proporções (%) de RMOU e madeira de eucalipto, sendo T1 = 100/0, T2 = 75/25, T3 = 50/50, T4 = 25/75 e T5 = 0/100. Desses tratamentos foram analisadas as características físicas, químicas, imediatas, taxa de contaminantes minerais e teste de combustibilidade (ICOM). Os dados foram analisados por meio da análise da variância, correlações e análise multivariada de agrupamento hierárquico (cluster). Observou-se que elevados teores de extrativos, de holocelulose, de materiais voláteis, assim como baixos teores de cinza e de contaminantes e o melhor desempenho da combustão foram para o tratamento com 100% de madeira de eucalipto (T5). Por outro lado, a adição de madeira de eucalipto aos RMOU possibilitou o incremento do ICOM. Dessa forma, o tratamento T3 é o mais recomendado para a utilização energética.