Abstract: Solid combustible agent for disaggregating soot and tarry deposits in chimney flues, said agent comprising an aggregate of cellulosic particulate material, chemical and/or catalytic soot disaggregating agent and binder. This agent is preferably used alone, i.e. in the substantial absence of an already ignited fire, when combusted to treat the flue.

Abstract: A starch product which comprises gelatinized starch sulphamate and gelatinized starch phosphate is useful as a binder, particularly for coal briquettes. The product may be made by mixing preformed starch sulphamate and preformed starch phosphate but may also be prepared by heating gelatinized starch, gelatinized starch and a gelatinous starch sulphamate or gelatinized starch, and a gelatinized starch phosphate with, respectively a sulphamate and a phosphate, a phosphate or a sulphamate. Briquettes made from coal and the starch product having good bonding strength and carbonize with a clear flame.