Chemical and energetic properties of Calycophyllum spruceanum wood and charcoal from the Brazilian Amazon rainforest

Abstract The Calycophyllum spruceanum , known in Brazil, as “pau-mulato”, is a rapidly growing forest species native to the Amazon that produces dense wood used in floors, plywood, civil and naval construction and firewood, as it has high calorific value. However, studies on the species for energy production are scarce. Thus, our study aimed to evaluate the chemical and energetic properties of wood and charcoal from young “pau-mulato” trees ( Calycophyllum spruceanum Benth.), from forest thinning waste, produced at different carbonization runs. The material was collected in an experimental plantation of Embrapa Acre, located in the municipality of Rio Branco, State of Acre, northern Brazil, composed of 300 six-year-old trees, planted in spacing of 3 × 2 m. For the characterization of wood, the chemical and energetic composition were analyzed. The wood, at the age studied, had chemical and energetic properties compatible with other species native to the Amazonian region. Moreover, three carbonization runs were tested, with heating rates at 1.67; 1.17; and 0.83 °C min − 1 , to determine the yield in charcoal, condensable gases, non-condensable; apparent and energetic density; proximate analysis, and higher heating value of the charcoal produced. Due to the high-yield charcoal results (38.47%), high heating value (31.50 MJ.kg − 1 ), apparent and energetic density (0.649 g.cm − 3 and 20,469.0 MJ.m − 3 ), and low ash content (1.41%); the carbonization runs with lower heating rates were considered better for the production of charcoal.