Guideline for sampling and analysis of tars and particles in biomass producer gases

This paper reports the further development of a Guideline (formerly Protocol) for sampling and analysis of "tars" from biomass producer gases. This Guideline is being developed in a project in the European Fifth Framework Programme with additional partn rs from Switzerland and North-America. This paper gives the outline and principle of the Guideline. The Guideline is based on isokinetic sampling of particles and tar from the main producer gas duct, particle filtration at high temperature, gas cooling in a liquid quench, tar absorption in a solvent at low temperatures, an optional backup adsorber, and flow measurement and control. The Guideline gives a definition for "Gravimetric tar" which is the "tar" number to be determined by the Guideline. Besides, the Guideline gives procedures for c mpound analysis by GC-MS or GC-FID. Moreover, in this paper the major choices that were made to come to the draft Guideline are explained. Finally, at the end of the paper it is described how and on what time scale the development of the Guideline will be completed. This paper does not contain the full text of the Guideline. This full text is available on the Internet at www.tarweb.net