Degradation characteristics of straw and washed straw

Product distribution from straw and washed straw pyrolysis shows the usual temperature (660-990 K) dependence, but the pretreatment makes the initial degradation temperature slightly higher and gives rise to larger yields of condensable products (mainly at the expenses of char). Water washing also a ffects decomposition of straw in air. Devolatilization again takes place at higher temperatures and with a higher peak rate, but char combustion react ivities are always lower. Hot water washing of large (0.5-1 mm) straw char particles is less effective for ash removal than straw washing, independent ly of the temperature and the atmosphere where chars were formed. In partic ular, for low temperature (520 K) and air, the ash removed decreases as suc cessively higher conversion levels are examined. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.