[Bioconversion] Re: [Gasification] instead of ethanol -- make natural gas??

[Jeff Davis]

Dear Andrew and list,



>
> Jeff it doesn't alter the fact that grasses have high ash content compared
> with wood from the middle of a stem. If this ash or the flue gas is high
> in
> phosphates or potassium then you are depleting the soil with each crop. If
> you are loosing some, most likely phosphorus compounds but we hear a lot
> of
> alkali metals (potassium) causing problems with heat exchanger surfaces,
> this
> indicates they are leaving as volatised compounds and there is little
> chance
> of them being returned to the place where the crop came from.
>
> AJH


I see your point, and it is a good one! I would think that your gasifier
filter would trap most of the ash and that would be returned to the field.
What are your thoughts on that?????????

I also should say that I'm working more for the homestead than big
business. I can see a homesteader doing that but a business buying biomass
and processing it would not (returning the ash). Do not get me wrong, I
love wood and love working int the woods. But I have been lucky to have
lots of experiance and also had training from (Game of Logging)  Eric
Sorenson. I have watched unexperianced people work in the woods and it's
not fun. I would kind of like to promote something safer for the
homesteader. But I am also happy that you bring this up. I'm thinking more
on the lines of a person that would have, say 5 acres, of switchgrass to
help out with his/her fuel.


Jeff Davis