PROPERTIES OF CHARCOAL PRODUCED FROM REACTION WOOD IN TREES INCLINED DUE TO WIND1

ABSTRACT Inclined trees produce reaction wood, whose properties are distinct from normal wood. This situation can affect the production of charcoal. This study was conducted to evaluate the quality of charcoal derived from reaction wood in trees of a commercial plantation inclined due to the action of wind. We used six year old wood from a Eucalyptus grandis xEucalyptus urophylla hybrid from plantations located in Minas Gerais. The physical and chemical properties of the wood were determined as well as the gravimetric yield and charcoal properties. According to the results, there were significant differences between the properties of the reaction and normal wood, with the reaction wood having lower levels of lignin and extractives, greater holocellulose content and low specific gravity. However, these characteristics of reaction wood did not significantly affect the properties of its charcoal.