Uso de resíduos da Castanha do Brasil (Bertholletia excelsa Bonpl.) na solução de problemas socioeconômicos e de sustentabilidade ambiental

Abstract

The research sought to investigate the use of Brazil nut residues as raw material for the production of activated carbon for the treatment and obtaining of filtered water for human consumption, considering its socioeconomic and environmental benefits for states in the Amazon. , with ecologically correct practice. The use of activated carbon, produced from agricultural by-products or agro-industry waste, in the treatment of water for human consumption or waste, represents a viable economic alternative in relation to the high costs of other treatments, in addition to contributing to environmental preservation, since its disposal as waste in nature and without proper treatment can cause some kind of degradation. The transformation of waste is the basis of the concept of sustainability in the modern world. Laboratory tests were carried out to transform the sea urchin residue into raw material for the production of activated charcoal and the economic feasibility study for the implementation of a Factory Unit to produce activated charcoal at Aruanã Farm, case study of this research. The results showed that these residues have a high combustion potential, that is, they are potentially adsorbent. They also pointed out that they have a greater advantage in the burning and production of charcoal in relation to the residue of the Brazil nut shell, proving that its physicochemical properties represent a good alternative raw material for the production of activated charcoal, but that it has not yet been it is suitable for human consumption, requiring other tests to meet this criterion. With regard to the economic viability of setting up a manufacturing unit and producing activated charcoal at Aruanã Farm with sea urchin waste used as raw material, three scenarios were analyzed: i. first, it would be unfeasible if only the amount of hedgehogs produced by the 200,000 currently productive chestnut trees were used; ii. second, if all the usable hedgehogs from all the chestnut trees currently planted on the Farm are used and if all of them become productive, the project would be fully viable, requiring only 144 days to produce 143,260 kg of charcoal; iii. third, the production of activated carbon taking place in the 264 possible days of the year, the project presents even more viable financial indicators, however, the Farm would not be able to supply all the necessary hedgehogs.