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

[Michael Antal]

Hi Ron: as you know, Federal support for energy R&D has fallen from $6
billion in '78 to $1.4 billion in '08 (constant dollars).  Also, most
federal funds require industrial matching funds, and these are very, very
difficult to obtain in the University.

 

Also, as you are well aware, although DOE has spent $58 billion over the
past 30 years, things haven't changed much.

 

University researchers like me need good industrial partners to garner
federal $ to support needed research.  Answers of the sort you seek
concerning sewage sludge, MSW, etc don't grow on trees.  Everyone knows how
much medical care costs.  Energy research is no different.

 

Finally, I remind you of the "cold fusion" fiasco where the leading
researchers went public with their findings before they published their
results in peer reviewed journals.  I adhere to the established traditions
of the scientific community and will be glad to share our sewage sludge
paper with others after it is published (probably in mid 2009).  Otherwise,
I invite anyone who is interested to attend the AIChE Philadelphia meeting.
Also, I remark that there is lots of sludge left after the methane
"digestion" process.  The production of methane doesn't make the sludge
disappear!

 

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

  _____  

From: Ron Larson [mailto:rongretlarson at comcast.net] 
Sent: Friday, April 18, 2008 6:12 AM
To: Michael Antal; 'Michael Bailes'; 'Biopact'; 'terra pretta group'
Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] Promoting biochar in an era of high food prices

 

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 <mailto:mantal at hawaii.edu>  

To: 'Ron <mailto:rongretlarson at comcast.net>  Larson' ; 'Michael Bailes'
<mailto:michaelangelica at gmail.com>  ; 'Biopact' <mailto:biopact at biopact.com>
; 'terra pretta group' <mailto:terrapreta at bioenergylists.org>  

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


  _____  


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

        <snip rest>

 

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