[Gasification] Some ideas to work on!

[Kevin Chisholm]

Dear Ken

Ken Calvert wrote:

...del...
>      However,  a month or so ago we had a good discussion on Humphrey pumps 
> which came to a stop when someone pointed out that the one they saw was 
> surrounded by soil heavily contamined with  PAH carcingens and the health 
> authorities raised their hands in righteous holy horror and if I remember 
> rightly closed it all down.  Gasifier tars, like other benzene chemicals are 
> really bad news.  Maybe if the idea caught on they might put in truckstop 
> disposal points along the 66 to   allow one to off load  and tank up with 
> clean water  again.    Enough for the moment.   Ken C.

The tar and "black water" issue is a problem area with gasification, and 
attempts to clean up the gas.

Some biomass "tars and smokes" are safe enough that they can be used for 
the seasoning and preservation of foods, while others, such as coal 
tars, are a definite, known and proven health hazard.

Obviously, all "tars and smokes" are not as hazardous as some.

What are the conditions that produce hazardous tars?

Is the "black water" that results from washing woodgas all that 
hazardous? If so, are there any simple treatments that can be done to 
it, to capture hazardous components, so that the bulk of it can be 
disposed of safely?

Best wishes,

Kevin