[TheForge] eucalyptus charcoal

[craig.schaefer at verizon.net]

What about the co2 emitted by whatever heat source you use to convert the wood to charcoal?  You have to add that in.

>From: Erik Gutfeldt <erikg at apple.com>
>Date: Fri Aug 19 12:57:23 CDT 2005
>To: Sponsored by ABANA <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
>Subject: Re: [TheForge] eucalyptus charcoal

>
>On Aug 18, 2005, at 1:32 PM, mrscherm at aol.com wrote:
>
>> but the charcoal making process emits far more carbon dioxide than  
>> the trees can consume
>
>
>Nope, cannot be true.
>
>Believe it or not the carbon contained in any plant matter, including  
>eucalyptus trees, came from CO2. So, any carbon in the form of CO2  
>released from tree material cannot be more than the CO2 used by the  
>tree during it's growth. Plants don't have any source of the element  
>carbon other than from CO2.
>
>But the conversion back to CO2 is not 100% efficient. Also, not 100%  
>of the tree material is used. Some carbon remains in the roots,  
>leaves and bark. These will only re-release their carbon as they decay.
>
>Do eucalyptus trees grow well in northern Brazil? I recall a failed  
>'ecological' paper making venture in Brazil. They couldn't get trees  
>to grow in the cleared rain forrest land. It's really really poor soil.
>
>Erik
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