[Stoves] torrefied biomass and plastic

[AJH]

On Wed, 12 Mar 2008 11:51:16 +0200, IPC wrote:

>In a nutshell, don't try pyrolysing plastics unless you really know what you
>are about.  "Torrefaction" should be spelled "taurefaction" in this
>connection - pure bull.

I think most of us have agreed on this point but the discussion may
have got a bit confused with regard to Richard's briquettes.

I would be hesitant about being totally prescriptive about avoiding
all plastics in these briquettes until I see good evidence to suggest
a danger. If people are already used to burning plastics for
heat/cooking then banning them will not serve any purpose in the
absence of substitutes. The plastic seems to serve two purposes in the
briquette ( binding and adding calorific value) and two social
functions (providing an environmental cleansing and useful employment
collecting a raw material).

As venting or breathing in partially burned or volatilised polymers is
not healthy op environmentally sound then I'll agree they should be
out of any talk about torrefying briquettes made with them.

>Sorry to enter this thread late - I have been waiting for someone else to
>say it.

Better late than never. I've often intended to comment on a thread but
by the time I read all the replies the thread has died!

AJH