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During potato desiccation the above-ground parts can be destroyed by mechanical, mechanical-chemical, or chemical methods. In the current study, the mechanical-chemical method was used and instead of chemical compounds natural nonanoic acid (pelargonic acid) was used. Nonanoic acid is a natural active ingredient that can be extracted from vegetable oil (rapeseed oil). It is a short chain fatty acid and a natural product, that fits well with the principles of the Green Revolution, which has introduced restrictions worldwide on the use of chemical plant protection products and promotes natural ones. For comparison carfentrazone-ethyl and glufosinate-ammonium were used. Studies were carried out in Poland during 2012-2014 with the potato variety Ikar, which is known to be among the varieties difficult to desicccate in Poland. The results show that potato leaves were efficiently destroyed by both nonanoic acid and chemicals (carfentrazone-ethyl and glufosinate-ammonium). The level of destruction varied from 94.5% to 99%. The level of stalk drying caused by nonanoic acid was high and it was similar to that of chemical desiccants. None of the studied desiccants significantly affected yield, vascular necrosis or quantity of starch in tubers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intumescent coatings covering wood, composites and steal swell under the influence of heat and they form a porous, non-flammable charred layer. They cut off the oxygen supply and cut heat penetration from flammable surfaces e.g. wood and lignocellulosic composites. They are effective and create non expensive barriers which protect flammable materials. There are mainly two types of barriers. They confuse usually modified resins, carbonizing agents, foam forming agents, dehydrating agents and according to area of application - different modifiers. Other types of intumescent materials were developed on the basis of alkali silicates, lithium, sodium and potassium, which also can be used as a coat on wood, composites, and metals. They start swelling in 100°C, or in contact with flame due to endothermic process and is associated with an emission of water vapor. The solid foam is rigid and consists of hydrated silica and some products of decomposed mineral endothermic fillers. The fire proofing efficacy of the protected surface is determined by: heat release rate, the efficacy of combustion heat, the mass loss rate and specific swelling ability of this coating. After some modifications of this type of barrier coating was also developed another type as sealant for fire barrier doors and for protective coat of chassis and rubber tires of military vehicles, resistant to napalm conditions. A new effective intumescent coating - EXPANDER FR, transparent system based on modified nano-scale silica is presented below. Char forming materials swell and intumescence occur during the heating of covered materials. There is strong correlation between char yield and fire resistance because char is formed and emits combustible gases and water vapor. The presence of formed char inhibits spread of the flame, acting as a thermal barrier around the unburned material. This resulted in perfect insulation of covered flammable materials (wood, composites, flexible textile barriers) from the excessive rise of temperature and oxygen penetration. Intumescent coating protects flammable materials against thermal decomposition. It is observed a strong correlation between char yields and fire resistance. In case of polymers and polymer composites the temperature of burning surface of polymer is close to the temperature at which extensive thermal degradation occur (300-600 °C). The bottom layer of char, near the protected surface, has similar temperature below 300°C whereas the upper surface is exposed to almost 1500°C. Fire protecting coatings with intumescent properties were used for about 50-60 years, whereas the process of incorporating intumescent additives intrinsically in different polymer structures e.g. by using especially modified dendrimers is relatively new. Summing up, family of expanders FR is effective thanks to proper selection of: carbonizing agents, foam forming agents, dehydrating agents and special modifiers agents including very effective high dispersion endothermic fillers. The intumescent coating - Expander® is produced on base of license at Innovative Company Delta in Poland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Miscanthus is resistant to dry, frosty winters in Poland and most European Union countries. Miscanthus gives higher yields compared to native species. Farmers can produce Miscanthus pellets after drying it for their own heating purposes. From the third year, the most efficient plant development begins, resulting in a yield of 25–30 tons of dry matter from an area of 1 hectare. Laboratory scale tests were carried out on the processes of drying, compacting, and torrefaction of this biomass type. The analysis of the drying process was conducted at three temperature levels of the drying agent (60, 100, and 140 °C). Compaction on a hydraulic press was carried out in the pressure range characteristic of a pressure agglomeration (130.8–457.8 MPa) at different moisture contents of the raw material (0.5% and 10%). The main interest in this part was to assess the influence of drying temperature, moisture content, and compaction pressure on the specific densities (DE) and the mechanical durability of the pellets (DU). In the next step, laboratory analyses of the torrefaction process were carried out, initially using the Thermogravimetric Analysis TGA and Differential Scaning Calorimeter DSC techniques (to assess activation energy (EA)), followed by a flow reactor operating at five temperature levels (225, 250, 275, 300, and 525 °C). A SEM analysis of Miscanthus after torrefaction processes at three different temperatures was performed. Both the parameters of biochar (proximate and ultimate analysis) and the quality of the torgas (volatile organic content (VOC)) were analyzed. The results show that both drying temperature and moisture level will affect the quality of the pellets. Analysis of the torrefaction process shows clearly that the optimum process temperature would be around 300–340 °C from a mass loss ratio and economical perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]