Analysis of Solid Waste Generation in a Wood Processing Machine

Abstract

The processing of the wood generates a significant amount of waste, presenting itself as a problem to the environment. The volume of waste generated from processing depends, in addition to other factors, on the type of processing machine. This work aimed to present a case study regarding the volume of waste generated in the processing of the logs of Eucalyptus sp.genus specie using processing machine Pica-Pau type. Pica-Pau type machine was located in Itapeva (state of Sao Paulo, Brazil). A total of 38 logs were used, with na average diameter of 34cm (excluding the bark and measured at base and top of the log), average length of 3 m and conicity of 1%. The average volume of 38 logs was equal to 10.35m³ and the volume of residues generated during log processing was 2.17m³, implying a transformation coefficient (Ct) of 79%. Processing machine Pica-Pau type was classifies a good machine to be used in the processing of logs, however, the processing time is higher than the time used by the most used band saws, making it less attractive in the processing of wood by large companies. From the qualitative point, the waste generated in the production of the plank is mostly the sawdust.