[Terrapreta] Pure Organics Vs. Biological Agriculture

[Sean K. Barry]

Hi David,

I know you are right about this.  The problem becomes one of finite chemical energy in the feedstock and efficient processing of the feedstock into charcoal.  Handling the biomass; harvesting it, bailing it, moving it, chopping it, drying it, etc. all take energy.  Conversion of biomass into charcoal is not particularly energy intensive, if done right, but it isn't free either.  In fact, after the losses of energy with the waste heat, the amount of energy it takes to make charcoal from the biomass can pretty closely equate with the amount of energy left in the fuel part of the gases that vent from the reactor.  Taking any more energy away in the form of fuel will reduce the amount of charcoal proportionately.

So, the management of using the waste heat for other purposes, than say drying the biomass feedstock, would be an important part of harvesting the energy from the biomass.  Whenever any carbon positive" fossil fuels are used in the processes involved, then these will offset the value of the carbon which could be stored in the soil.  Making the biomass-to-charcoal conversion process simple and at the same time clean (no emission of potent greenhouse gases, like methane-CH4) is not easy, either.  The energy would be "carbon negative" only if the amount of carbon buried in soil actually exceeds the amount of CO2-equivalent GHG that are emitted by all energy inputs to the harvest, conversion, and application processes.

I am an advocate of putting pyrolysis reactors at green municipal waste sites for the economic benefits of an almost "free" source of biomass feedstock.  But, the chemical economics of making "carbon negative" energy with the carbonation of biomass are as yet only a mostly undeveloped theory and we really need to "meat this out" before we can claim the "carbon negative" status of the energy we could produce.

Regards,

SKB
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: David Yarrow<mailto:dyarrow at nycap.rr.com> 
  To: terrapreta at bioenergylists.org<mailto:terrapreta at bioenergylists.org> 
  Sent: Tuesday, September 18, 2007 8:52 PM
  Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] Pure Organics Vs. Biological Agriculture


  there is a third reason to explore TP that has little to do with soil:
  3) charcoal production offers a carbon negative pathway to produe biofuels to replace fossil fuels.

  don't forget 3), because therein lies the critical economic factor to make this strategy profitable.

  here in NY, all municipalities are required to separate organic matter from their waste streams.  most municipalities operate composting facilities to convert grass clippings, brush, tree trimmings, chipped stumps, pallets, and other wood waste into black compost.  near here, the city of albany gives tons of this compost away to residents; what isn't sold by winter is sold to scott's for $2/ton.

  installing a pyrolysis plant could permit these municipalities to produce charcoal and biofuel to heat their buildings and power their fleet of vehicles.

  for rural areas, farmer coops can use pyrolysis and TP to allow farmers to become four F producers: 
  food, fiber, fuel & fertility.

  David Yarrow
  "If yer not forest, yer against us."
  Turtle EyeLand Sanctuary
  44 Gilligan Road, East Greenbush, NY 12061
  dyarrow at nycap.rr.com<mailto:dyarrow at nycap.rr.com>
  www.championtrees.org<http://www.championtrees.org/>
  www.OnondagaLakePeaceFestival.org<http://www.onondagalakepeacefestival.org/>
  www.citizenre.com/dyarrow/<http://www.citizenre.com/dyarrow/>
  www.farmandfood.org<http://www.farmandfood.org/>
  www.SeaAgri.com<http://www.seaagri.com/>
   
  "Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, 
  if one only remembers to turn on the light."  
  -Albus Dumbledore
    ----- Original Message ----- 
    From: Sean K. Barry<mailto:sean.barry at juno.com> 
    Sent: Tuesday, September 18, 2007 7:25 PM
    Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] Pure Organics Vs. Biological Agriculture



    I would say, though (and you have pointed this out yourself recently), there are two camps in here about Terra Preta; 1) those that want it for its enhanced agricultural benefit, and 2) those that want this for carbon sequestration.
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