Kinetics of peat hydropyrolysis

The ultimate yields of the several products of hydropyrolysis of peats from different geographical areas apparently can be estimated from the ultimate and proximate analyses. About one-third of the oxygen appears as steam and two-thirds as carbon oxides. The ultimate hydrocarbon yields are primarily related to the remaining volatile carbon. The evidence indicates that the methane produced is formed from the initially formed light aliphatic hydrocarbons, and through a relatively rapid carbon-hydrogen reaction. The rates of formation of these products appear to be dependent on the sorce of the peat.