Definition Tar is a complex mixture of condensable hydrocarbons and many definitions of biomass tar have been given by as many

institutions working on biomass gasification. Within the European project on standardization of measuring tar a consensus on the definition was agreed, being all organic hydrocarbons higher than benzene, (for more information, see www.tarweb.net). Formation When biomass is heated the molecular bonds of the biomass break; the smallest molecules gaseous, the larger molecules are called primary tars. These primary tars, which are always fragments of the original material, can react to secondary tars by further reactions at the same temperature and to tertiary tars at high temperature. One pathway for tar formation can be visualised as follows: Mixed Ogygenates 400 oC Phenolic Ethers 500 oC Alkyl Phenolics 600 oC Heterocyclic Ethers 700 oC Larger PAH 900 oC

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-> PAH 800 oC

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Figure 1 Formation of biomass tars and example of compounds formed