Morphological and elementary evaluation of wooden carbonaceous materials from activated carbon industry

The worldwide concern of reducing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere combined with more stringent environmental laws has led to an increase in studies of renewable energy. This research aimed to characterize wood chips and activated charcoal by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The chips came from an energy forest of Pinus elliottii and were burned in the furnace of a boiler for steam generation. This steam generated by the boiler in appropriate furnaces is used in the activation of wood charcoal from small regional producers. SEM showed an increase in the porosity of the charcoal with the activation process, and EDS analysis indicated both chips and charcoals, with and without activation, have no contaminants, such as heavy metals. This study revealed a low toxicity of lignocellulosic materials based on Pinus elliottii. The burning of wooden chips in the boiler as well as the activation process of wood charcoal did not present apparent environmental risks.