[Stoves] torrefied biomass and plastic

[AJH]

On Wed, 12 Mar 2008 10:52:10 +0800, Robert Taylor wrote:

>Are PE and PP "simple linear compounds"? 

PE is unless the polymer has been modified or "branched" in some way,
it's when the carbons form rings of 6 or 5 molecules that problems are
likely.

>What about PET? 

I thought PET was mostly used to form stiffer plastics from polythene,
in UK it's used for drink, shampoo bottles and the like. I had thought
the phthallate was a simple filler though I infer from Philip's (IPC)
that it forms part of the polymer. As Philip says it is an aromatic
compound then I would expect products of incomplete combustion of it
to be dangerous but to what degree I don't know.


>Other than films, 
>are shreds or granules of solid PE and PP likely to be OK, as an admixture 
>to biomass? Are the additives in them something to worry about?

It sounds like it.
>
>And if at times there is not enough oxygen, will the smoke be merely 
>similarly noxious to that from biomass, or significantly nastier?

I don't know but both should be avoided.

AJH