RE: [Biochar] Potential big ag opportunities for biochar








Tom,

 

Thanks for that important information.

 

The straight reeds are easiest for the RoCC kiln.   The bushy one could be more difficult and I do not want to include them in this discussion.   [A modified RoCC kiln could be a separate solution for the bushy invasive biomass.]

 

Being in waterways, it is possible for the RoCC kiln to be floated (small barge or separate boat) to the location.   Do the pyrolysis there and only bring out the biochar.   If accessible by land, that could be viable also.

 

The  crucial  issue is the moisture content (MC) of the reeds.   Does that MC vary with  the seasons, as it does with miscanthus and some others?   

 

Or can the reeds be cut and left to dry in the air and sun for sufficient time before the kiln is brought in?  

 

The heat from the RoCC kiln could also be used for drying, but that add an additional level of complexity and costs,  but still quite possible for a significant amount of biomass to be cleared.  

 

For discussion  purposes, I am  suggesting that the RoCC kiln method could cut the costs in  half of current methods.    Maybe even less.   For a mere 20% cost savings, I would not rush to be involved.   But if 40% or 50% or 60% savings
could be possible,  there could be interest to explore this further. 

 

And if the others are only burning it (to ash), then the income that is possible with RoCC kiln pyrolysis  for biochar and for Carbon REMOVAL credits give additional financial  incentives to use the  RoCC kilns.  With  the worsening world
climate crisis, eventually the pyrolytic processing of such biomass that can be harvested every couple of years might be earning a profit because of carbon  REMOVAL.  

 

Paul

 

Doc / Dr TLUD / Paul S. Anderson, PhD — Website:  
www.drtlud.com

         Email:  psanders@ilstu.edu       Skype:   paultlud

         Phone:  Office: 309-452-7072    Mobile & WhatsApp: 309-531-4434

Exec. Dir. of Juntos Energy Solutions NFP    Go to:
www.JuntosNFP.org
 

Inventor of RoCC kilns and author of Biochar white paper :  See 
www.woodgas.energy/resources  

Author of “A Capitalist Carol” (free digital copies at
www.capitalism21.org)

         with pages 88 – 94 about solving the world crisis for clean cookstoves.

 

From: main@Biochar.groups.io <main@Biochar.groups.io&gt;
On Behalf Of Tom Miles via groups.io

Sent: Sunday, January 16, 2022 4:50 PM

To: main@Biochar.groups.io

Subject: Re: [Biochar] Potential big ag opportunities for biochar

 

[This message came from an external source. If suspicious, report to
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Paul,

 

The money is spent eradicating the Arundo through costly extraction and burning. It is one of many invasive species that are in locations, often in waterways and stream banks, that would benefit from biochar but few would be willing to
spend the money on getting equipment in to convert it. Salt cedar and Russian Olive are others that are common challenges.     

 

Tom

 

From: main@Biochar.groups.io <main@Biochar.groups.io>
On Behalf Of Paul S Anderson

Sent: Sunday, January 16, 2022 2:03 PM

To: main@Biochar.groups.io

Cc: Carbon Dioxide Removal <CarbonDioxideRemoval@googlegroups.com>

Subject: Re: [Biochar] Potential big ag opportunities for biochar

 

Tom and Antonio,

 

Thank you for pointing out the Arundo donax plant.   I have just now done some reading on websites.    Evidently a pest.   Potentially ideal for biochar production using RoCC kilns.  

 

Of course, it does need to be cut and adequately dried.   Could be cut near the ground or near the water line.   Or if the roots and even some dirt come up, that is fine for the RoCC kiln.   The biochar plus any dirt is going to go back
to the soil.   And the  RoCC kiln will accept the leaves as well as the reed/cane.  

 

And if it grows back, it will be harvested again, and again, and again to make biochar.   This is an example of biomass that is so abundant and without any value (and even with costs to control it)  that  it is a pest.   The RoCC kiln can
turn this into biochar that has value as physical biochar AND value for carbon sequestration (CDR).  

 

Compared to brushy invasive species that are bushes or bifurcating branches, such tall mostly straight reeds are literally “low hanging fruit” for easy biochar production.   Tom wrote:  “…we spend tens of millions of dollars every year
to attempt control.”   If the money is really being spent, and assuming someone might want some new solutions that will  save money or even make money, we have every reason to become active for the purposes of making biochar.

 

Is there anyone who wants to work with me on this?   You will need to have access to the biomass and some funding to do first a modest trial and then, we expect, to launch commercial  activity.   I have many not-yet-released contributions
(innovative design variations of RoCC  kilns) regarding the pyrolysis of such biomass, especially for the handling of biomass types depending on their shapes and environments.   I cannot do these many different variations of RoCC kiln efforts alone.   Grant
money should be available, or simply using some of the tens  of millions of dollars already being spent each year.

 

Paul

 

Doc / Dr TLUD / Paul S. Anderson, PhD — Website:  
www.drtlud.com

         Email:  psanders@ilstu.edu       Skype:   paultlud

         Phone:  Office: 309-452-7072    Mobile & WhatsApp: 309-531-4434

Exec. Dir. of Juntos Energy Solutions NFP    Go to:
www.JuntosNFP.org
 

Inventor of RoCC kilns and author of Biochar white paper :  See 

www.woodgas.energy/resources
  

Author of “A Capitalist Carol” (free digital copies at

www.capitalism21.org
)

         with pages 88 – 94 about solving the world crisis for clean cookstoves.

 

From: main@Biochar.groups.io <main@Biochar.groups.io>
On Behalf Of Tom Miles via groups.io

Sent: Sunday, January 16, 2022 11:26 AM

To: main@Biochar.groups.io

Subject: Re: [Biochar] Potential big ag opportunities for biochar

 

[This message came from an external source. If suspicious, report to
abuse@ilstu.edu]

The giant red, Arundo Donax, the clarinet reed, is an invasive species that we spend tens of millions of dollars every year to attempt control. It establishes along waterways particularly in the Southern US. Plantations projects in the
South determined that it can revegetate unless it is field chopped to less than ½ inch (12 mm). A major energy project based on Arundo plantations was abandoned in Florida and then in Oregon. The difficulty of controlling it is a major problem. It is not an
environmentally friendly feedstock.

 

Once dried it is an excellent fiber. A US company has attempted to promote it for fiber purposes for many years.

 

Tom

 

From: main@Biochar.groups.io <main@Biochar.groups.io>
On Behalf Of Paul S Anderson

Sent: Sunday, January 16, 2022 9:12 AM

To: main@Biochar.groups.io

Subject: Re: [Biochar] Potential big ag opportunities for biochar

 

Antonio,

 

I have some ongoing experience with pyrolysis of giant reeds.  In various arrangements, I have dealt with miscanthus, bamboo, papyrus, corn stalks, biomass sorghum, misc. thin reeds, stranded bagasse (sugar cane that is crushed, not chopped),
and some other long stuff (such as slabs at sawmills, which are not reeds).   Now I offer a specific way to handle them, preferably in their intact, long forms.

 

My RoCC kiln is able (and actually is very compatible) for receiving long biomass as it comes in from the harvest.   Being dry is very important, but many reeds are dry during winter.   Or can be air dried with some time.  

 

Please look at my several documents about RoCC kilns in the production section at 

www.woodgas.energy/resources
.      The right RoCC kiln for you would be determined based on desired operational size (related to diameter of the kiln) and to length (related to the biomass length/handling).   RoCC kilns are currently in  diameters from
0.6 to 1.8 m (~2 ft to 6 ft) and lengths from 0.9 to 2.7 m (~3 to 9 ft.)   RoCC kiln lengths of over 6 m (~20 ft) are possible if your reeds are that tall.    Loading is along the long side (dropping in the intact long biomass), not pushed in from  the end.  
RoCC kiln technology is still “young” and being enhanced with each new unit and distinct biomass.  The patent (pending but close to being issued) covers these many variations.    

 

Please tell us about the height and diameter and species characteristics.    Do you have test results of biochar from those reeds?   If so, be sure to indicate the type of equipment (simple retort, rotary kiln, TLUD, flame-cap, etc.)  
The maximum temperature to which all or most of the biomass is exposed for sufficient time is what is important in the char characteristics, but not in the handling..

 

Are you making a general observation or do you own or control lands with these reeds?   If there is a business  proposition for using this biomass (and if it  is too specific or private for a public  Discussion Group), please contact me
directly.  I would be very interested in participating in operations in Italy (or other areas).  Others with such biomass are also encouraged to contact me or to discuss general situations on this discussion  group.

 

Paul

 

Doc / Dr TLUD / Paul S. Anderson, PhD — Website:  
www.drtlud.com

         Email:  psanders@ilstu.edu       Skype:   paultlud

         Phone:  Office: 309-452-7072    Mobile & WhatsApp: 309-531-4434

Exec. Dir. of Juntos Energy Solutions NFP    Go to:
www.JuntosNFP.org
 

Inventor of RoCC kilns and author of Biochar white paper :  See 

www.woodgas.energy/resources
  

Author of “A Capitalist Carol” (free digital copies at

www.capitalism21.org
)

         with pages 88 – 94 about solving the world crisis for clean cookstoves.

 

From: main@Biochar.groups.io <main@Biochar.groups.io>
On Behalf Of Antonio Volta via groups.io

Sent: Sunday, January 16, 2022 1:35 AM

To: main@biochar.groups.io

Subject: Re: [Biochar] Potential big ag opportunities for biochar

 

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Learn why this is important

Hi everyone,

I’m new in the group.

Did someone try to produce biochar from giant reed? 

In Northern Italy yield of this biomass in marginal lands is very high and not used at all.

 

Antonio

 

Il giorno dom 16 gen 2022 alle ore 04:52 Tom Miles <tmiles@trmiles.com> ha scritto:

Cane tops and leaves are an opportunity biochar feedstock. 

T R Miles Technical Consultants Inc.

Sent from mobile. 

 

On Jan 15, 2022, at 7:38 PM, James Tomell <james.tomell@gmail.com> wrote:



Most of the bagasse from sugar cane is burned as boiler fuel. Excess is traded as a commodity to other mills as fuel.

It also makes a good substrate for vermi beds.

 

On Sun, Jan 16, 2022, 3:34 AM Ian McChesney, <ian.mcchesney@gmail.com> wrote:

Very impressive ! – and not just for Ethanol. A number of Ag. industries, cane sugar, palm oil etc could take this route………….   ! 

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