A 3-zonal fixed-bed reactor (400 mm in inside diam., about 900 mm in height) and a plant for biomass gasification (60 kW) were constructed. Alder wood chips were gasified with air at 900-1050 degrees C in the reactor (15 kg/h, air excess coeff. 0.4, gasification efficiency 0.63). Compn. of the gas produced as well as the contents of dust and org. Iimpurities were detd. The gas contained CO (19.8%), H(2) (5.9%) and MeH (1.7%) as well as dust and tars (600 and 12000 mg/m(3), resp.) and needed an addnl. purifn. before its use in gas engines or turbines.