CORRELATIONS BETWEEN THE PROPERTIES OF EUCALYPTUS HYBRIDS WOOD AND CHARCOAL

Three different ages of Eucalyptus grandis x Eucalyptos urophylla wood hybrids were studied, with purpose of evaluating wood and charcoal behavior by temperature rising, and investigating the influence of wood characteristics on charcoal. Wood was analyzed chemically (total extractives, lignin, holocellulose, cellulose, ash and elementary composition) and thermally (thermogravimetry analysis-TG, differential thermal analysis-DTA and differential scanning calorimetry-DSC). Also, basic density and higher heating value were evaluated. Charcoal was produced in muffle furnace with constant heating rate of 1,67 degrees C min(-1) up to 450 degrees C. In the produced charcoal, immediate analysis were conducted, elementary and thermal. The basic density of wood had positive correlation with C/H relation, and negative correlation with ash, nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur contents and S/G relation. The wood contents of ash, nitrogen, sulfur and S/G had positive correlation among each other, and negative correlation with C/H relation. In charcoal, the fixed carbon content, calorific value, elementary carbon content and C/H relation had positive correlation among each other, and negative correlation with volatiles content. The lignin had positive correlation with gravimetric yield in charcoal (RGC) and negative correlation with fixed carbon.