Uso de aditivos naturais extraídos de plantas amazônicas como alternativa sustentável ao LGE no combate a incêndios florestais

Abstract

Wildfires in the Amazon represent one of the greatest environmental and operational challenges for the Amazonas Military Fire Department (CBMAM), due to the difficulties of access, the rapid spread of flames, and the high risk of reignition. Traditionally, water is the main extinguishing agent used, but it has limitations such as evaporation under high temperatures and low efficiency in extensive areas. Foam-forming agents (Líquido Gerador de Espuma – LGE) are commonly applied in urban fires; however, their use in forest fires is unfeasible due to high costs, the large volumes required, and their environmental impacts. In this context, this study proposes the evaluation of natural additives extracted from Amazonian plants as a sustainable alternative to enhance the extinguishing capacity of water. These compounds, such as saponins, gums, and vegetable oils, present surfactant, thickening, and foaming properties that can improve water retention, increase the contact time with fuels, reduce water consumption, and minimize reignition. Furthermore, they offer environmental advantages since they are biodegradable and have low ecological impact, contributing to ecosystem regeneration. The research aims to identify Amazonian plants with potential application, analyze the effectiveness of these additives, compare efficiency against water alone, assess environmental impacts, and investigate the operational and economic feasibility of large-scale adoption. Therefore, this study seeks to propose an innovative and sustainable solution that combines science, logistics, and environmental preservation in the fight against wildfires in the Amazon region.