[Terrapreta] Promoting biochar in an era of high food prices

[Ron Larson]

Michael (with ccs):

    Thanks for this response below.  I take it to be cautiously optimistic on RDF.  (Is that term synonymous with MSW?)  Presumably your request for  "industrial support' means more operational units?  Or is this expressing a need for research?  And is this an EPA type of area?  DoE?  Which part of Federal or international governmental body should we be encouraging to get answers on RDF/MSW?

    Please also let us know the content of your upcoming AIChE paper on sewage sludge as soon as you can.  I know that a lot of sewage sludge is converted to methane in many municipalities - and a useful fertilizer product often obtained.  But if you or others have previously suggested that there are better economics and societal value in pyrolysis and soil-sequestration of this form of bio-char, I have missed it.  Around here, there is direct use (maybe no cleanup?) of the anaereobic biogas in engines for pumping and electrical generation.  Does your AIChE paper address the use of the off gasses?

    Thanks again for all the great work you are doing.

Ron
    
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Michael Antal 
  To: 'Ron Larson' ; 'Michael Bailes' ; 'Biopact' ; 'terra pretta group' 
  Sent: Thursday, April 17, 2008 12:20 PM
  Subject: RE: [Terrapreta] Promoting biochar in an era of high food prices


  Ron: we have had some positive results with RDF (i.e. refuse derived fuel).  As you know, RDF has a highly variable composition and moisture content; hence a few positive results are not enough for any public announcement.  If we obtain additional industrial support for our Flash Carbonization work, we shall be able the supply the kind of statistics and deep knowledge that you seek.  As I mentioned in a previous posting, we will be presenting our results with sewage sludge at the next annual meeting of the AIChE in Philadelphia.  These results will also be published.  Thanks for your interest, Michael.  

   

  Michael J. Antal, Jr.

  Coral Industries Distinguished Professor of Renewable Energy Resources

  Hawaii Natural Energy Institute

  POST 109, 1680 East-West Rd.

  Honolulu, HI 96822

   

  phone: 808/956-7267

  fax: 808/956-2336

  www.hnei.hawaii.edu


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  From: Ron Larson [mailto:rongretlarson at comcast.net] 
  Sent: Thursday, April 17, 2008 2:40 AM


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