O USO DE CAVACOS DE MADEIRA NA INDÚSTRIA CERÂMICA E A CONSEQUENTE GERAÇÃO DE CINZAS

Abstract

Sintering or “firing” is the stage where heat turns clay into ceramic. A ceramic industry in  municipality  Jaboticabal, SP uses woodchips to heat the ovens. Combustion of  woodchips produces energy and heat efficiently and sustainably, however, it results in ash production. Knowledge of  particularities of  burned biomass helps to define an application for ash and in establishing strategies for its reduction. The objective of  work was to characterize woodchips used by the company and relate them to the amount  ash produced. Three lots were evaluated, from which nine samples were collected. Density, moisture, bark percentage, granulometry and ash produced in the ovens were analyzed. The density ranged from 246 to 270 kg/m3. Lots 2 and 3 presented humidity of 7% and Lot 1 of 24%. The proportion of husks varied from 10.8 to 19.7%. The ash production was 2%. Woodchips free of bark produce 0.6% ash while Only bark produce 2.15%. About 50kg of ash is produced in each kiln per firing. The ash presents predominantly fine granulometry. There is considerable variation between woodchip batches, mainly in terms of moisture and bark percentage. Woodchips with more bark tend to produce more ash and more humid chips result in higher consumption, as there will be energy expenditure for water evaporation. The data show that it is possible to reduce ash using woodchips with less bark and reduce energy consumption using drier woodchips