Abstract The paper presents the results of studies on ashes produced from burning wood biomass in closed wood-fired furnaces, individual household furnaces (Silesian Province, Poland). Dry sieve analysis and detailed granulometric were performed with Analysette 22 Micro Tec plus analyser. Content basic elements (Al, Si, P, Na, K, Mg, Ca, Fe) potentially toxic (As, Pb, Cd, Zn, Cu, Ni, Cr, Hg) wa...

Our purpose in this chapter is to provide an overview of the enzymology and associated molecular genetics of wood decay by white-rot fungi. These fungi are able to fragment the major structural polymers of wood and other lignocellulosics-lignin, cellulose, and hemicelluloses—and to further metabolize the fragments. The whiterot fungi and related litter-degrading fungi are perhaps nature’s major...

Impact of waste fuels (virgin/waste wood, mixed biofuel (peat, bark, wood chips) industrial, household, mixed waste fuel) and incineration technologies on partitioning and leaching behavior of trace elements has been investigated. Study included 4 grate fired and 9 fluidized boilers. Results showed that mixed waste incineration mostly caused increased transfer of trace elements to fly ash; part...

Mechanical densification is a process of transforming loose biomass into dense pellets. In this study, a wood pelleting plant was chosen to evaluate the total energy consumption, environmental emissions and cost of pellet production using different alternative fuels for the drying process. The fuels compared were natural gas, coal, dry and wet sawdust, and ground wood pellets. The process model...

Coal contains many potentially harmful trace elements. Coal combustion in 22 unvented stoves, which is common in most parts of rural China, can release harmful emissions 23 into the air that when inhaled cause health issues. However, few studies have dealt specifically 24 with the toxicological mechanisms of the particulate matter (PM) released by coal and other 25 solid fuel combustion. In thi...

The value of biogas produced at small scale facilities, such as farm scale biogas plants, can increase by upgrading it to vehicle fuel quality. However, commercial upgrading technologies available today are very costly for small scale applications. Ash from combustion of wood fuels has a high content of Ca, which indicates favourable conditions for a high CO2 uptake capacity from biogas. The ob...