THE DESIGN AND ANALYSIS OF EXPERIMENTS. By Oscar Kempthorne. New York, John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 1952. 631 pp. $8.50. This book by a teacher of statistics (as well as a consultant for \"experimenters\") is a comprehensive study of the philosophical background for the statistical design of experiment. It is necessary to have some facility with algebraic notation and manipulation to be able to use the volume intelligently. The problems are presented from the theoretical point of view, without such practical examples as would be helpful for those not acquainted with mathematics. The mathematical justification for the techniques is given. As a somewhat advanced treatment of the design and analysis of experiments, this volume will be interesting and helpful for many who approach statistics theoretically as well as practically. With emphasis on the \"why,\" and with description given broadly, the author relates the subject matter to the general theory of statistics and to the general problem of experimental inference. MARGARET J. ROBERTSON

The Design and Analysis of Experiments

Characteristics of hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin pyrolysis

Modeling chemical and physical processes of wood and biomass pyrolysis

Pyrolysis is one of the thermochemical technologies for converting biomass into energy and chemical products consisting of liquid bio-oil, solid biochar, and pyrolytic gas. Depending on the heating rate and residence time, biomass pyrolysis can be divided into three main categories slow (conventional), fast and flash pyrolysis mainly aiming at maximising either the bio-oil or biochar yields. Synthesis gas or hydrogen-rich gas can also be the target of biomass pyrolysis. Maximised gas rates can be achieved through the catalytic pyrolysis process, which is now increasingly being developed. Biomass pyrolysis generally follows a three-step mechanism comprising of dehydration, primary and secondary reactions. Dehydrogenation, depolymerisation, and fragmentation are the main competitive reactions during the primary decomposition of biomass. A number of parameters affect the biomass pyrolysis process, yields and properties of products. These include the biomass type, biomass pretreatment (physical, chemical, and biological), reaction atmosphere, temperature, heating rate and vapour residence time. This manuscript gives a general summary of the properties of the pyrolytic products and their analysis methods. Also provided are a review of the parameters that affect biomass pyrolysis and a summary of the state of industrial pyrolysis technologies.

Lignocellulosic biomass pyrolysis: A review of product properties and effects of pyrolysis parameters

Application of biochar for the removal of pollutants from aqueous solutions.

According to the International Biochar Initiative (IBI), biochar is a charcoal which can be applied to soil for both agricultural and environmental gains. Biochar technology seems to have a very promising future. Nevertheless, the further development of this technology requires continuing research. The present paper provides an updated review on two subjects: the available alternatives to produce biochar from a biomass feedstock and the effect of biochar addition to agricultural soils on soil properties and fertility. A high number of previous studies have highlighted the benefit of using biochar in terms of mitigating global warning (through carbon sequestration) and as a strategy to manage soil processes and functions. Nevertheless, the relationship between biochar properties (mainly physical properties and chemical functionalities on surface) and its applicability as a soil amendment is still unclear and does not allow the establishment of the appropriate process conditions to produce a biochar with de...

Pyrolysis for Biochar Purposes: A Review to Establish Current Knowledge Gaps and Research Needs

The thermal decompositions of sugarcane bagasse and waste-wood samples are studied using thermogravimetric analysis. Assuming the addition of three independent parallel decompositions, these corresponding to three pseudocomponents linked to the hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin, the weight loss associated with the pyrolysis process is simulated. First, an irreversible first-order reaction model is assumed for each pseudocomponent. Results show that the model-simulated curves do not fit well to the experimental data. Consequently, a further kinetic study is carried out for the pure lignin (Kraft alkali lignin), which demonstrates that the pyrolysis of lignin is better described by a third-order reaction rate law. The reformulation of the lignin kinetic model, and its subsequent implementation in the summative model (for the third pseudocomponent), has allowed one to reach a good agreement between simulated and experimental data.

Joan J. Manyà

Papers

Pyrolysis for Biochar Purposes: A Review to Establish Current Knowledge Gaps and Research Needs

Kinetics of Biomass Pyrolysis: a Reformulated Three-Parallel-Reactions Model

Fluidized-bed co-gasification of residual biomass/poor coal blends for fuel gas production

Ultra-microporous adsorbents prepared from vine shoots-derived biochar with high CO2 uptake and CO2/N2 selectivity

Influence of gas residence time and air ratio on the air gasification of dried sewage sludge in a bubbling fluidised bed