An overview of the chemical composition of biomass

Particulate matter (PM) emissions from stationary combustion sources burning coal, fuel oil, biomass, and waste, and PM from internal combustion (IC) engines burning gasoline and diesel, are a significant source of primary particles smaller than 2.5 μm (PM2.5) in urban areas. Combustion-generated particles are generally smaller than geologically produced dust and have unique chemical composition and morphology. The fundamental processes affecting formation of combustion PM and the emission characteristics of important applications are reviewed. Particles containing transition metals, ultrafine particles, and soot are emphasized because these types of particles have been studied extensively, and their emissions are controlled by the fuel composition and the oxidant-tem-perature-mixing history from the flame to the stack. There is a need for better integration of the combustion, air pollution control, atmospheric chemistry, and inhalation health research communities. Epidemiology has demonstrated t...

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/10473289.2000.10464197

Combustion aerosols: factors governing their size and composition and implications to human health.

Analysis and significance of mineral matter in coal seams

Glycerol is a valuable byproduct in biodiesel production by transesterification, soap manufacturing by saponification as well as hydrolysis reaction. The purity of glycerol obtained is low due to the presence of impurities such as remaining catalyst, water, soaps, salts and esters formed during the reaction. Purification of glycerol as well as the conversion of glycerol into valuable products has attained growing interest in recent years due to the dramatic growth of the biodiesel industry. This paper reviews different methods of producing crude glycerol as the major by-product. Purification of glycerol was reported as well as value-added products produced from glycerol.

Glycerol production and its applications as a raw material: A review

Coal oxidation at low temperatures (i.e. <100 °C) is the major heat source responsible for the self-heating and spontaneous combustion of coal and is an important source of greenhouse gas emissions. This review focuses on the chemical reactions occurring during low-temperature oxidation of coal. Current understanding indicates that this process involves consumption of O 2, formation of solid oxygenated complexes, thermal decomposition of solid oxygenated complexes and generation of gaseous oxidation products. Parameters, such as mass change, heat release, oxygen consumption, and formation of oxidation products in the gas or solid phase, have been used to qualitatively and quantitatively describe the oxidation process. Reaction mechanisms have been proposed to explain the characteristics of consumption of O2, and formation of oxidation products in the gas and solid phases. Various kinetic models have also been developed to describe the rate of oxygen consumption and the rates of formation of gaseous oxidation products in terms of the rate parameters of the relevant reactions, oxidation time, temperature, and initial concentration of oxygen in the oxidising medium. Further research emphasis should be placed on the formation of the complete reaction pathways proceeding in the oxidation process and on the development of kinetic models applicable for predicting the self-heating and gas emission in a coal seam or stockpile.

F. Wigley

Papers

The roles of lime and iron oxide on the formation of ash and deposits in PF combustion

The distribution of mineral matter in pulverised coal particles in relation to burnout behaviour

Ash deposition of a Spanish anthracite: effects of included and excluded mineral matter

Modelling fly ash generation for pulverised coal combustion

Ash deposition at higher levels of coal replacement by biomass