[Terrapreta] Eprida bio-char available (Allan Balliett)

Thu Aug 2 12:03:06 EDT 2007

Hopefully I can clear up some questions you might have about Eprida Biochar.

The pyrolysis unit we have is a continuous feed system with a residence time
of about 12-15 minutes. The biomass is slowly moved through the vessel
(which is essentially oxygen free) at a "lower" temperature (at or below 500
degrees C) and falls out as charcoal. What makes our process unique is that
we use steam as a sweep gas and convert the steam and smoke into a hydrogen
syn-gas.

Our "pilot unit" is one of a kind and requires 24 hours operation. Also, its
small when compared to industry standards, with a throughput of 18 - 22
kilograms/hour. The char typically weighs 30% of the weight of the biomass
input. Fresh out of the machine, the char is highly reactive but we have
found that this declines over time. We learned real quick that a 5 gallon
plastic bucket does not work as a temporary storage container for day-old
char!

The unit was built for research purposes and therefore creates char in a
highly controlled environment. The hi-tech monitoring devices supply us with
a large amount of data, enabling us to characterize the char and use it for
scientific purposes.

Don't worry, we are working on the market availability and if all goes well,
putting charcoal in the soil will be as natural as using compost!

~Rebecca

On 8/1/07, terrapreta-request at bioenergylists.org <
terrapreta-request at bioenergylists.org> wrote:
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> Today's Topics:
>
>    1. Re: Eprida bio-char available (Allan Balliett)
>    2. Re: Solution for your aphids (Richard Haard)
>    3. Re: Eprida bio-char available (Gerald Van Koeverden)
>    4. Re: Eprida bio-char available (Allan Balliett)
>    5. Re: Eprida bio-char available (Gerald Van Koeverden)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Wed, 1 Aug 2007 07:00:08 -0400
> From: Allan Balliett <aballiett at frontiernet.net>
> Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] Eprida bio-char available
> To: "Tom Miles" <tmiles at trmiles.com>, terrapreta at bioenergylists.org
> Message-ID: <p062309c2c2d617790f18@[192.168.254.4]>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ; format="flowed"
>
> I remain confused as to why pyrolysis char is in such short supply.
>
> It was my impression that 50% of the inputs are available as char
> after the process.
>
> I guess what I'm missing is the size of the chambers and the length
> of the process.
>
> Can someone (Danny Day?) bring me up to speed on this?
>
> Also, anyone know anything about the chicken manure pyrolysis operation in
> VA?
>
> Thanks
>
> -Allan Balliett
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Wed, 1 Aug 2007 05:54:18 -0700
> From: Richard Haard <richrd at nas.com>
> Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] Solution for your aphids
> To: Robert Flanagan <agrisonic at gmail.com>
> Cc: terrapreta at bioenergylists.org
> Message-ID: <A7DF7B95-4F05-4287-A995-7391149C0B01 at nas.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> When I was a kid mom had me collect cigarette butts and put in a jar
> of water. With the solution that came off and a little soapy water
> took care of the aphids on the rose bushes. No problem.
>
> Thinking back about it I think she was giving me subtile non smoking
> advice.
>
> Rich
> On Jul 31, 2007, at 9:57 PM, Robert Flanagan wrote:
>
> > Hi Len,
> >
> > I remember reading in Peter Tompkins "Secrets of the soil" about
> > Machelle Wright solving this problem by growing "Costmary" as a
> > sacrificial plant beside her rose bushes to solve her aphid
> > problem. Not sure if that herb grows in your area but the idea
> > still seems to have good merit.
> >
> > Regards,
> > Rob.
> >
> >
> >
> > On 7/31/07, Len Walde <sigma at ix.netcom.com> wrote:
> > Gerald:
> >
> > Thanks for the wood vinegar information.  One question:  How does
> > it work on
> > aphids? A real problem for me.  Anyone else know?
> >
> > Many thanks,
> >
> > Len Walde
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Gerald Van Koeverden" <vnkvrdn at yahoo.ca>
> > To: "Jeff Davis" <jeff0124 at velocity.net>
> > Cc: < terrapreta at bioenergylists.org>
> > Sent: Monday, July 30, 2007 9:12 PM
> > Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] Wood vinegar pesticide
> >
> >
> > > I've translated some of the pesticide uses of wood vinegar from the
> > > Thai language on the A.T.A. web site:
> > >
> > > 1.  for fungus (mildew?) on tomatoes and cucumbers, spray at a
> > > concentration of 1:200
> > > 2.  for tomato root rot, water base of plant at concentration of
> > 1:200
> > > 3. for cabbage, to repel insects, use concentration of 1:1500 in
> > > watering can
> > > 4. for corn, to repel insects, spray 1:300 concentration
> > >
> > > Gerrit
> > >
> > > On 30-Jul-07, at 11:33 PM, Jeff Davis wrote:
> > >
> > >> Robert wrote:
> > >>> Another product that is a bi-product of charcoal production
> > that  is
> > >>> said
> > >>> to  work as an effective pesticide is bamboo vinegar (Liquid
> > smoke).
> > >>
> > >> Robert, I was thinking about that. My Gas-of-Fire produces
> > >> something like  that and I was considering giving that a try. I
> > bet just
> > >> the smell
> > >> would  do the trick.
> > >>
> > >> Hmmmmm, so with the correct gasifier we can produce a gas fuel to
> > >> heat our  green house (well, maybe I need one), charcoal for
> > Terra Preta
> > >> and
> > >> now a  pesticide!
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> I hope this all works out!!!!
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> Jeff
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Terrapreta mailing list
> > Terrapreta at bioenergylists.org
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> >
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> > Terrapreta mailing list
> > Terrapreta at bioenergylists.org
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> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Wed, 1 Aug 2007 10:33:37 -0400
> From: Gerald Van Koeverden <vnkvrdn at yahoo.ca>
> Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] Eprida bio-char available
> To: Allan Balliett <aballiett at frontiernet.net>
> Cc: terrapreta at bioenergylists.org
> Message-ID: <4C23B807-3478-4E10-9FFD-F0EB2DBE2C82 at yahoo.ca>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed
>
> Allan,
>
> In the pyrolysis process using wood waste products for producing bio-
> oil, char output comes to about 18% of the input.  But there's a
> little problem with shipping and storing the stuff : it's pyrogenic.
> It will start burning spontaneously on exposure to air.
>
> Gerrit
>
>
> On 1-Aug-07, at 7:00 AM, Allan Balliett wrote:
>
> > I remain confused as to why pyrolysis char is in such short supply.
> >
> > It was my impression that 50% of the inputs are available as char
> > after the process.
> >
> > I guess what I'm missing is the size of the chambers and the length
> > of the process.
> >
> > Can someone (Danny Day?) bring me up to speed on this?
> >
> > Also, anyone know anything about the chicken manure pyrolysis
> > operation in VA?
> >
> > Thanks
> >
> > -Allan Balliett
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Terrapreta mailing list
> > Terrapreta at bioenergylists.org
> > http://bioenergylists.org/mailman/listinfo/
> > terrapreta_bioenergylists.org
> > http://terrapreta.bioenergylists.org
> > http://info.bioenergylists.org
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 4
> Date: Wed, 1 Aug 2007 10:40:51 -0400
> From: Allan Balliett <aballiett at frontiernet.net>
> Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] Eprida bio-char available
> To: terrapreta at bioenergylists.org
> Cc: terrapreta at bioenergylists.org
> Message-ID: <p062309cbc2d64b9b4715@[192.168.254.4]>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ; format="flowed"
>
> MAN! Do tell me more, since I clearly am under informed!
>
> How long of a process is it, to take a pile of wood and and reduce it
> to self-igniting bio-char? Does it smolder for DAYS, WEEKS?
>
> -Allan
>
> At 10:33 AM -0400 8/1/07, Gerald Van Koeverden wrote:
> >Allan,
> >
> >In the pyrolysis process using wood waste products for producing
> >bio-oil, char output comes to about 18% of the input.  But there's a
> >little problem with shipping and storing the stuff : it's
> >pyrogenic.
> >It will start burning spontaneously on exposure to air.
> >
> >Gerrit
> >
> >
> >On 1-Aug-07, at 7:00 AM, Allan Balliett wrote:
> >
> >>I remain confused as to why pyrolysis char is in such short supply.
> >>
> >>It was my impression that 50% of the inputs are available as char
> >>after the process.
> >>
> >>I guess what I'm missing is the size of the chambers and the length
> >>of the process.
> >>
> >>Can someone (Danny Day?) bring me up to speed on this?
> >>
> >>Also, anyone know anything about the chicken manure pyrolysis
> >>operation in VA?
> >>
> >>Thanks
> >>
> >>-Allan Balliett
> >>
> >>_______________________________________________
> >>Terrapreta mailing list
> >>Terrapreta at bioenergylists.org
> >>http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/biochar/
> >>http://terrapreta.bioenergylists.org
> >>http://info.bioenergylists.org
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 5
> Date: Wed, 1 Aug 2007 11:36:06 -0400
> From: Gerald Van Koeverden <vnkvrdn at yahoo.ca>
> Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] Eprida bio-char available
> To: Allan Balliett <aballiett at frontiernet.net>
> Cc: terrapreta at bioenergylists.org
> Message-ID: <9F7269DC-EA8F-4801-B467-15E8169807B7 at yahoo.ca>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed
>
> Allan,
>
> I'm not an expert.  I just know that this is what is produced locally.
>
> Different processes using different temperatures depending on what
> they hope to get out of, and you get different types of char...
>
> This particular process is extremely quick.   The milled wood waste
> spends less than two seconds in the pyrolysis chamber.  Basically, it
> is almost instantly 'melted' into oil (40% of the input weight), char
> (18%) and the rest is gases.  The gases are recycled back into the
> system to provide the correct heat (approx 400-500C) for the
> pyrolysis chamber.
>
> Gerrit
>
>
> On 1-Aug-07, at 10:40 AM, Allan Balliett wrote:
>
> > MAN! Do tell me more, since I clearly am under informed!
> >
> > How long of a process is it, to take a pile of wood and and reduce it
> > to self-igniting bio-char? Does it smolder for DAYS, WEEKS?
> >
> > -Allan
> >
> > At 10:33 AM -0400 8/1/07, Gerald Van Koeverden wrote:
> >> Allan,
> >>
> >> In the pyrolysis process using wood waste products for producing
> >> bio-oil, char output comes to about 18% of the input.  But there's a
> >> little problem with shipping and storing the stuff : it's
> >> pyrogenic.
> >> It will start burning spontaneously on exposure to air.
> >>
> >> Gerrit
> >>
> >>
> >> On 1-Aug-07, at 7:00 AM, Allan Balliett wrote:
> >>
> >>> I remain confused as to why pyrolysis char is in such short supply.
> >>>
> >>> It was my impression that 50% of the inputs are available as char
> >>> after the process.
> >>>
> >>> I guess what I'm missing is the size of the chambers and the length
> >>> of the process.
> >>>
> >>> Can someone (Danny Day?) bring me up to speed on this?
> >>>
> >>> Also, anyone know anything about the chicken manure pyrolysis
> >>> operation in VA?
> >>>
> >>> Thanks
> >>>
> >>> -Allan Balliett
> >>>
> >>> _______________________________________________
> >>> Terrapreta mailing list
> >>> Terrapreta at bioenergylists.org
> >>> http://bioenergylists.org/mailman/listinfo/
> >>> terrapreta_bioenergylists.org
> >>> http://terrapreta.bioenergylists.org
> >>> http://info.bioenergylists.org
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Terrapreta mailing list
> > Terrapreta at bioenergylists.org
> > http://bioenergylists.org/mailman/listinfo/
> > terrapreta_bioenergylists.org
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> > http://info.bioenergylists.org
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> _______________________________________________
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> Terrapreta at bioenergylists.org
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>
> End of Terrapreta Digest, Vol 7, Issue 2
> ****************************************
>

-- 
Eprida, Inc
1151 E. Whitehall Rd.
Athens, GA 30605
(706) 316 - 1765 ext 645
http://www.eprida.com
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