Kevin that is very perceptive. I favour the 'favourable conditions' explanation. Regards Crispin
+++++++ Dear Andrew Very interesting possible explanation for why "spent agricultural lime" helps with the anaerobic retting process! While Ca(OH)2, or "Hydrated lime" can have a pH as high as about 12.5, and is indeed very caustic, CaCO3 or "Limestone", "agriculture lime, "land lime", has a pH in the range of about 8, which is not very caustic at all Is there perhaps another possibility, that being that a marginal change in alkalinity favours growth of different bacteria? More specifically, is it perhaps the minor change in pH is "shifting the bug balance", rather than making local chemistry harsher? In other words, are the "retting fungus forms" more favoured with slightly higher pH, while the fungus forms that consume cellulose are repressed? Best wishes, Kevin _______________________________________________ Stoves mailing list to Send a Message to the list, use the email address [email protected] to UNSUBSCRIBE or Change your List Settings use the web page http://lists.bioenergylists.org/mailman/listinfo/stoves_lists.bioenergylists.org for more Biomass Cooking Stoves, News and Information see our web site: http://www.bioenergylists.org/
