[Bioconversion] Retting and Binders

[andrew]

On Sunday 26 February 2006 03:00, Jeff Davis wrote:

Jeff this was a good find. I would like an explanation of how the calorific 
value can increase with retting. Retting is after all partial decomposition 
and the bugs have to respire some of the dry matter to live.

>  Binders fall into three categories:   inorganic materials, organic
>  materials, and fibers.
>
>  o    Inorganic materials, such as cement and silicate of soda
>       are appropriate for wood fuel.  These substances are poor
>       because they give more ash, reduce the heat value, and fall
>       apart while burning.
>
>  o    Organic materials such as tar, pitch, resin, and glue
>       usually increase the heat value and create no extra ash.
>
>  o    Various types of fibrous material may serve as binding
>       agents.   The cheapest is hydrated wood fiber-wood waste--ground,
>       pulped wood waste, which, when dry, binds together
>       in the same way as paper.

Can I add simple waste packaging plastics to this list. I know most standards 
setting bodies abhor the idea but I consider it a valid means of usefully 
disposing of them as a small admixture to a biomass fuel.

AJH