[Gasification] Cellulose Gas and Biochar option

thomas reed tombreed2009 at gmail.com
Sat Feb 8 08:39:45 CST 2014


Dear Paul and all

Lignin is the "starch" that makes strong, but flexible (think cotton) into
tall trees, transporting water hundreds of feet above our heads.  (But
lignin is NOT not chemically related to starch, a sugar polymer).

It is a very complex, three dimensional, organic substance with the
approximate formula C10H12O3 ( but a lot of variation in different
species).  There are lots of phenolic groups, probably accounting for the
clean smell of wood smoke.

 FROM WIKIEDIA..


   1.
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      More images<https://www.google.com/search?q=lignin&client=safari&hl=en&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=fT72UtL3A4qEyAHatIHIDA&ved=0CEYQiR4>

Lignin
Lignin or lignen is a complex polymer of aromatic alcohols known as
monolignols. It is most commonly derived from wood, and is an integral part
of the secondary cell walls of plants and some algae.
Wikipedia<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lignin>
Formula<https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&hl=en&q=lignin+formula&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAAGOovnz8BQMDgxkHnxCnfq6-gWGSsXmWlnp2spV-ckZqbmZxSVElhJWcmBOfnJ9bkF-al2KVll-UW5qT-ObHxlWzO7f8W38jou_si8TEDEEnNwDL1OCzUwAAAA&sa=X&ei=fT72UtL3A4qEyAHatIHIDA&ved=0CFUQ6BMoATAK>
: C9H10O2,C10H12O3,C11H14O4











Feedback

When you walk in the woods, you often see brown logs that fall apart if you
kick them.  The cellulose of the wood has been eaten by microorganiisms
that convert it back to sugar, but they can't eat the lignin.

Termites have special microorganiisms that do digest only lignin, and
occasionally you will see white wood rot, the cellulose that the termites
can't digest.

Wouldn't you think all of this would have been figured out long ago and
taught in HS chemistry classes?

To each his own.  Chacun a son gout!

Tom




On Friday, February 7, 2014, Paul Anderson <psanders at ilstu.edu> wrote:

> Tom,
>
> I (and many others, for sure) appreciate your explanations (below).
>
> One question:   The lignin is present as the celluloses are changed to
> gas.   And the lignin BECOMES char.   Please discuss that chemistry of
> lignin becoming char.   What is happening?
>
> Comment:  Looking at the gases that are coming out of TLUDs (that is, the
> gases BEFORE they get to any combustor), they appear to be (seem to be,
> give the impression of, possibly are) loaded with the stuff that would clog
> engines.  So I need a chemist's explanation of why those gases have
> advantages over those from the Imbert, etc.
>
> Still learning,
>
> Paul
>
> Doc  /  Dr TLUD  /  Prof. Paul S. Anderson, PhD
> Email:  psanders at ilstu.edu
> Skype: paultlud      Phone: +1-309-452-7072
> Website:  www.drtlud.com
>
> On 2/7/2014 4:36 PM, Tom Reed wrote:
>
> Evan
>
> Good question, "Why do TLUDs (Toplit updraft combustors)  exclude
> hemicellulose and lignin?"  First, I think they do burn the hemicellulose
> along with the cellulose.  Maybe I should have said "celluloses".  (The
> hemicellulose is only a few % of wood! and is even more volatile than the
> cellulose. )
>
> You are correct.  The cellulose (and hemicellulose) become volatile at
> about 330C,
>
>      C6H10O5 + 1/2 O2 ===> 6 CO + 5 H2    Delta H = (2829 - 3080) -260
> ENDOTHERMICl
>
> and generates the gas we see burning in the match (for instance).  The
> same temperature converts the lignin to charcoal, and if there is a choice
> between cellulose (in the next lower layer for TLUDS) and this charcoal,
> the flame moves to the cellulose gas from the next layer, leaving the
> charcoal behind, protected by the oxygen free gas left from cellulose
> combustion.
>
> The WWII (Imbert) gasifiers injected air below the unburned wood and above
> the charcoal as it formed.  This keeps the air in balance, since if too
> much charcoal was momentarily produced, more wood fell in front of the air
> nozzles and balance was restored.
> <><><>
>
> Today we have an alternate use for the charcoal, Biochar, to improve soil
> fertility and reduce global warming, so by consuming only the celluloses,
> we produce ~ 20% charcoal from our wood supply. So the TLUD gasifier is a
> simple alternative to Imbert.  It also produces a gas that is easier to
> clean for engine use.
>
> It is surprising that, with all the dependence on wood burning for heat,
> this wasn't discovered centuries earlier.  If you make a vertical pile of
> fireplace logs and light ON TOP, they will burn down at a steady rate, the
> embers of each layer lighting the next layer, no matter how high the pile.
>
> Try it, and send comments.
>
> Tom Reed
>
> Dr. Thomas B Reed
> 280 Hardwick Rd
> Barre, MA 01005
> 508 353 7841
>
>  On Feb 7, 2014, at 4:00 PM, Evan Marks <yarmarks at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> A question to Tom Reed:
>
> Just wanted to get some clarity on the statment that TLUDs only burn
> cellulose. If we are contrasting for instance WWII sytems and TLUDs, and
> therefore limitation to only the cellulose fraction, is the primary
> difference temperature? Why do TLUDs exclude hemicellulose and lignin? Is
> the cellulose fraction equivalent to the volatile fraction?
>
> Thanks, -EM
>
>
>
>
>
> Dear Tom Miles and all
>
> WWII gasification converted all the fuel into a low quality (150Btu/scf)
> gas that required considerable cleanup. Before use in engines.
>
> Now that we recognize the value of biochar as
>
> O. A soil amendment
>
> O. Reducing global warming
>
> a second option is more attractive.
>
> In the TLUD stove and larger (eg 33 gal garbage can) only the cellulose
> burns, giving a cleaner gas
>
> C6H10O5 + 1/2 O2 ===>
> 6O +  5 H2
>
> Plus. biochar for addition to the soil.
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-- 
NOTE:  PLEASE CHANGE MY ADDRESS TO TOMBREED2010 at GMAIL.COM

Dr. Thomas B. Reed
The Biomass Energy Foundation
BEF, BEC, BER
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