RE: [Biocharinthewoods] Feedstock conversion rate

by (updated on )







Ken, Maggie, and all,

 

Half of the weight of DRY carbohydrates (biomass) is carbon.    THAT is 50% of  the starting point BEFORE pyrolysis.   

 

CLEAN burning of the off-gases of proper pyrolysis (minimal smoke or CO emissions) results is substantial amounts of CO2 into the air.    Specialists / chemists can tell us how much, but my instructors in
the  past  put it in the realm of 40% to 50% of the carbon is consumed.  40% of 50% = 20% of the original carbon is gone.    (At best there is 30% of the biomass carbon remaining.)

 

And with good woody biomass  we calculate that about 80% of the  carbon in the char is “Fixed” or “Stable” or “recalcitrant” .   That would leave 24% of the carbon.

 

Biochar can have heavier weights when it still retains some  volatiles.   

 

From years of making biochar in small quantities  and careful weighing using TLUD pyrolyzers, the expected dry weight of the resultant biochar is 20% plus or minus 2 to 5%.

 

I welcome the scientists to help correct or confirm what is written above.   Or someone can explain how the measurements are taken and calculations made to obtain the reported yields.     But meanwhile, even
claims of the biochar  retaining 30% to 40% of the original carbon should be suspect.

 

Paul

 

Doc / Dr TLUD / Paul S. Anderson, PhD

Email: 
psanders@ilstu.edu       Skype:   paultlud     Mobile & WhatsApp: 309-531-4434

Website:   
https://woodgas.com see Resources page for 2023
“Roadmap for Climate Intervention with Biochar” and 2020 white paper, 2) RoCC kilns, and 3) TLUD stove technology.                       

 

From: Biocharinthewoods@Biochar.groups.io <Biocharinthewoods@Biochar.groups.io&gt;
On Behalf Of Ken Carloni via groups.io

Sent: Monday, May 13, 2024 1:14 AM

To: Biocharinthewoods@biochar.groups.io

Subject: Re: [Biocharinthewoods] Feedstock conversion rate

 

 

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Hi Maggie — We are using a double walled flame cap kiln similar to the ring of fire.  Our preliminary results from 5 kiln burns with mostly green conifer feedstock (mostly pitch pine and eastern red cedar/juniper) indicate that we captured
20 to 40% of the feedstock carbon in the char.  The char was very stable with
H:Corg molar ratios in the 0.46 – 0.59 range (<0.7), and O:Corg molar ratios in the 0.02 – 0.09 range (<0.2).  We weighed feedstock in, oven dried representative samples to subtract moisture mass of feedstock, weighed char before quenching,
and sent char samples to Control Laboratories in CA for analysis.  So our data are reported on a dry weight basis.  We also measured emissions from those 5 kiln burns and 2 open burns for controls.  Kilns produced 4 to 5 times more char and far fewer emissions
than open burns.  The difference would have been greater if we had allowed the piles to burn all the way down without quenching at the end (for safety reasons).

 

We are funded for another 8 burns later this year with dry feedstock, so we expect these yields to improve.  I believe that with dry feedstock and improved weather protection
we will get up to 50% C sequestration.  Our final report should be out in early 2025.

 

Best — KC

 

=================================

Ken Carloni, Ph.D.

Botanist/Forest Ecologist

Ecosystem Restoration & Biochar Consulting

(541) 672-1914

 

 

On Sun, May 12, 2024 at 4:18 PM Kevin Kung via
groups.io <kevin.kung=takachar.com@groups.io> wrote:

It will depend on the moisture content as well as whether you’re calculating the yield on a wet or dry basis. 

 

For Takachar’s portable unit, we’ve been getting mass yields of 20-40% depending on the reaction and feedstock conditions, if what you’re looking for is carbon-credit-grade biochar. 

 

Others no doubt are more knowledgeable than me on the other types of portable equipment such as the ring of fire. 

 

Best,

 

Kevin Kung, Ph.D.

Chief Technology Officer, Takachar Limited

kevin.kung@takachar.com

+1(857)600-0981

 

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From:
Biocharinthewoods@Biochar.groups.io <Biocharinthewoods@Biochar.groups.io> on behalf of Maggie Long via
groups.io <maggielongat3=gmail.com@groups.io>

Sent: Sunday, May 12, 2024 4:07 PM

To: Biocharinthewoods@Biochar.groups.io <Biocharinthewoods@Biochar.groups.io>

Subject: [Biocharinthewoods] Feedstock conversion rate

 

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Does anyone have figures on the conversion rate (either by mass or volume) from feedstock to biochar for Douglas-fir or conifer feedstocks using kilns? I’m working on a climate solutions grant to purchase some mobile kilns and need some
metrics on the expected climate/carbon benefits. As we don’t have any kilns yet, I only have data on conversions from conservation burn piles. Any estimates would be extremely helpful!

Thanks in advance, 

Maggie

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