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Article analysis:

The article titled "Devolatilization of wood and wastes in fluidized bed" provides an overview of the devolatilization process during gasification and combustion of biomass fuels. The article discusses the importance of understanding the yields and composition of volatiles, as well as the rate of devolatilization, for efficient operation of fluidized bed gasifiers and combustors.

The article presents experimental results on the devolatilization behavior of various fuels, including wood pellets, municipal solid waste (MSW), meat and bone meal (MBM), and dried anaerobically digested sewage sludge (DSS). The authors provide empirical correlations for predicting yields of char, tar, and volatiles, as well as the composition of light gas, as a function of temperature.

While the article provides useful information on devolatilization behavior for different fuels, there are some potential biases and limitations to consider. Firstly, the article focuses primarily on laboratory experiments rather than real-world applications. While laboratory experiments can provide valuable insights into fuel behavior under controlled conditions, they may not fully capture the complexity and variability of actual fluidized bed systems.

Additionally, while the authors acknowledge that different fuels have different devolatilization behaviors, they do not explore these differences in depth or discuss potential implications for practical applications. For example, it is unclear how these differences might affect reactor performance or emissions.

Furthermore, while the authors present empirical correlations for predicting yields and composition based on temperature, they do not provide a detailed explanation or justification for these correlations. It is unclear how well these correlations would generalize to other fuels or operating conditions.

Finally, while the article does mention some potential risks associated with high tar content in gasification applications, it does not explore other potential environmental or health risks associated with biomass combustion or gasification. For example, particulate matter emissions from biomass combustion have been linked to respiratory problems and other health issues.

Overall, while this article provides useful information on devolatilization behavior for different fuels in fluidized bed systems, it is important to consider its limitations and potential biases when interpreting its findings.