Hot water extraction as a pretreatment for reducing syngas inorganics impurities - A parametric investigation on switchgrass and loblolly pine bark

The range of potassium, sodium, magnesium and calcium reductions were 94.9-98.8, 47.9-72.4, 58.7-83.5 and 8.5-13.0 for switchgrass and 50.8-67.5, 29.2-60.1, 9.7-50.8 and 3.3-33.0% for pine bark. Finally, statistical analysis was carried out on the statistical significance of the extraction temperature and time as well as their interaction on the removal of inorganic impurities. The extraction temperature, time, and the interaction differed in their effect on liquor pH, ash reduction, mass loss, and reduction of individual inorganics.