(467d) Study Pyrolysis Products of Live and Dead Shrub Fuels from the Forest in the Southeastern Unites States

Prescribed fire, also referred to as controlled burning, is an effective way to reduce accumulation of fuels in forests. Prescribed fire contributes in hazardous fuel reduction, pest insects and disease minimization, habitat improvement for threatened and endangered species, and site preparation for trees and plants growth. During prescribed burning, solid fuels undergo irreversible thermal degradation when exposed to high temperature. The endothermic thermal degradation process consists of two sequential steps: pyrolysis and combustion. Pyrolysis is the first chemical reaction which occurs in the burning of some fuels like biomass, plants, wood, paper, and cloth. In this research, a flat-flame burner (FFB) apparatus was used to study pyrolysis of live and dead shrub fuels from the forests in the Southeastern United States. The major products of pyrolysis then analyzed using gas chromatography mass spectrometry technique, and the products classified as non-condensable gases (e.g., CO, CO₂, H₂O, and H₂), condensable gases (tars), solid residue (char), and mineral ash.