INFLUENCE OF MINERAL MATTER ON BIOMASS PYROLYSIS CHARACTERISTICS

Studies on wood and twelve other types of biomass showed that in gener al, deashing increased the volatile yield, initial decomposition tempe rature and rate of pyrolysis. However. coir pith. groundnut shell and rice husk showed an increase in char yield on deashing, which is attri buted to their high lignin, potassium and zinc contents. These results were supported by studies on salt-impregnated, acid-soaked and synthe tic biomass. A correlation was developed to predict the influence of a sh on volatile yield. On deashing, liquid yield increased and gas yiel d decreased for all the biomass studied. The active surface area incre ased on deashing. The heating value of the liquid increased, whereas t he increase in char heating value was only marginal.