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Can 'Biochar' Save the Planet?

Posted March 31, 2009 9:20 AM

From CNN.com - Technology:

Over the railroad tracks, near Agriculture Drive on the University of Georgia campus, sits a unique machine that may hold the solution to big environmental problems such as energy, food production and even global climate change.

"This machine right here is our baby," said UGA research engineer Brian Bibens, who is one of a handful of researchers around the world working on alternative ways to recycle carbon.

Biben's specialty is "biochar," a highly porous charcoal made from organic waste. The raw material can be any forest, agricultural or animal waste. Some examples are woodchips, corn husks, peanut shells, even chicken manure.

Biben feeds the waste -- called "biomass" -- into an octagonally shaped metal barrel where it is cooked under intense heat, sometimes above 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit, the organic matter is cooked through a thermochemical process called "pyrolysis".

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#1

Re: Can 'Biochar' Save the Planet?

03/31/2009 4:34 PM

What is the total energy cost to produce "X" amount of bio-char? Only if the "waste" of humans can be used to produce bio-char at a positive cost, is it worth pursueing. If the cost is negative for energy consumption/production why produce yet another product, even if it is effective in soil amendmending and cutting fertilizer usuage.

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#2

Re: Can 'Biochar' Save the Planet?

03/31/2009 11:55 PM

Agreed. If it releases more carbon than it saves, perhaps it would be more practical to use the wastes for biogas production, and then use the solid residue for fertilizer.

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#3
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Re: Can 'Biochar' Save the Planet?

04/01/2009 11:21 AM

especially since that is already done... I smell something fishy in this biochar.

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#4

Re: Can 'Biochar' Save the Planet?

04/03/2009 11:59 PM

Might help in getting some of the antibiotics out of our water systems.

Further information needed.

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