[Bioconversion] Re:Bioconversion, Retting and Binders

[Irving Goldstein]

Two factors may contribute to the observed increase in energy density.

The biomass components are not equivalent in their energy content.   
Carbohydrates are already partially oxidized and give a lower  heat  
value on further combustion than the lignin component.  Depletion of  
carbohydrates by biological action during retting will increase the  
lignin content of the residue and therefore its fuel value. This is  
not the magical creation of more energy. What you are left with is a  
smaller mass of higher energy content material.  There is a net loss  
of the original heat contribution of the carbohydrates.

Perhaps of lesser importance is the possibility that the binder is a  
material of higher heat content than the original biomass.