The Charcoal Dilemma Finding a Sustainable Solution for Brazilian Industry

About this book

Should Brazil use cheap, imported coke which causes pollution both locally and globally, or should it continue, or even expand, charcoal production which is the more acceptable option from a social and environmental perspective.

Contents

Brief history of charcoal: general background; charcoal in Brazil. The charcoal-based industrial sector: main features of the iron and steel industry; overall charcoal consumption in the pig-iron and other industrial sectors. Raw material for charcoal production: from native forests to forest plantations: history of forest plantations; silvicultural aspects; eucaliptus varieties and wood densities; seedling generation and planting methods; tree spacing and cutting age; biodiversity preservation and insect control; yields; afforestation programmes for charcoal production in Minas Gerais; socio-economic factors; legal aspects of afforestation. Technical aspects of charcoal production: fundamentals; charcoal-making technology; masonry kilns in commercial charcoal production; material balance and charcoal yield; charcoal versus coke. Charcoal production costs. The future challenge - the need for sustsinable and rational use of native forests: Carajas; the sustainable forest management concept; sustainable forest management project of 'Fazenda' Descoberta. Environmental factors in charcoal production and use: general aspects; coke versus charcoal; the CO2 factor. general perspectives: general considerations; research and development needs; forestry; charcoal production; by-products recovery. Summary and conclusions: charcoal production; charcoal costs; sustainable forestry management projects (SFMPs); environment.

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