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

[Robert Klein]

It is possible to make a very compelling argument that all waste streams should be heated to about 600 degrees which removes all the carbon.  The problem is that historic burning methods did not control the temperature producing lousy results.  So the perception is awful

Right now I can build an effective system for any urban waste stream that will only put CO2 into the atmosphere or better still the greenhouse next door.  The question is how to actually make a sustainable business out of it without incurring a massive public relations expense for every order.

The solution is great and cheap, it just needs a billion dollar ad campaign which will make it prohibitively expensive.  Which is why we did not build nuclear power reactors for thirty years or so.  What happened to good old American knowhow?

bob

----- Original Message ----
From: Michael Bailes <michaelangelica at gmail.com>
To: terra pretta group <terrapreta at bioenergylists.org>
Sent: Thursday, April 17, 2008 6:53:39 PM
Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] Promoting biochar in an era of high food prices

I can't see the need for pryolosis of anything but waste at this point in time
Certainly that is the "marketing strategy" of BEST Energies, to sell their units to Companies with large waste streams that would otherwise end up in landfill- producing methane.

Pyrolysis is not a traditional incinerator. A good pyrolysis system captures most everything gasses, water, energy, charcoal.
I guess one of the problems with getting TP and char accepted, is this confusion with traditional burning of waste.

It is so counter-intuitive to think we can save a warming planet by burning things.

Personally I would like to see all charcoal produced by pyrolysis. What worries me is  home made bonfires made popular by our discussions of the benefits of char in soil.
Michael B

On 17/04/2008, Ron Larson <rongretlarson at comcast.net> wrote:Michael and Michael:
 
    Today Michael B. said 
re the potential for biochar (after supporting its use for increased food 
production): "Yes not just productivity, but also the waste 
stream of our economies/societies being turned into energy/biofuel."
 
    I agree with his statement on 
this additional value, need and potential for biochar - but believe we have a 
bigger hurdle in pyrolyzing Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) than for any other form 
of biomass.  No one wants an incinerator near them.  I do not recall 
discussion on this list on this ''negative reaction'' topic.
 
    Mike Antal seems to have 
overcome this hurdle in at least Hawaii.   Mike (or anyone else) - can 
you tell us more of your experiences in this area?  Any statistics or data 
on why pyrolysis rather than land-filling is a good idea 
overall?   
 
    For background purposes, I 
lived for several months in northern Sweden where one town (either Falun or 
Borlange) saved up (in plastic wrapped "bales") all its summertime (household 
and industrial both probably) refuse for combustion (not 
pyrolysis) for district heating 
during the winter.  There was mandatory separation and recycling of 
everything possible - and presumably looking  especially for anything 
hazardous.  
 
    I can believe there are many 
European cities that are ready to try pyrolysis - but think it will have a tough 
path getting started in the US.  Anyone able to offer a more positive 
view?  I am looking for data to try to push the idea where we can.  
Where MSW combustion is already occurring, switching to pyrolysis should not be 
that hard.
 
Ron
    
MA/B   



  
  
  
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-- 
Michael the Archangel
 How strange and sad for the species - have people forgotten that they can always escape to the fairy dell and talk to the ducks?
-Leunig, 2008





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