[Terrapreta] eprida nitrogenous char

[Greg and April]

Sean, 

You might be interested in the fact that Sandia National Lab. is working on a heat based reactor that will split both H2O and CO2 directly in to H2 and CO for conversion into methanol or other synthesis gas materials.    Currently they are working on a large solar mirror to power the thing, but I'm under the impression that other sources of heat might be of use ( which might include sources that also release CO2 as a byproduct such as charcoal production ).

Drop me a note and I'll send you the data he sent me - most of it is a year or so old, but, he said that they are trying to get newer data cleared for release with in the few months.

Greg H.

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Sean K. Barry 
  To: Terra Preta ; Gerald Van Koeverden 
  Sent: Sunday, January 13, 2008 22:43
  Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] eprida nitrogenous char


  Hi Gerrit,

  Nitrogen prices are so high because almost all nitrogen based fertilizers are made from natural gas.  Natural gas is mostly Methane-CH4, some Carbon monoxide-CO, and some Hydrogen H2.  These gases can be easily reformed, "cracking" the larger molecules into H2, CO, and CO2.
  Further H2 can be obtained by using a "water-shift" reaction on this "synthesis gas" (H2, CO, CO2), that uses hot injected steam to convert come of the CO to CO2 and release more H2 for the H2O (water) injection.   The Hydrogen gas-H2 then becomes the feedstock for making ammonia-NH4 using the Haber-Bausch process that combines Nitrogen gas-N2 form the air with the Hydrogen-H2 gas to make NH3.

  Ammonia is the principle chemical component in ALL industrially made high nitrogen fertilizers.  Ammonium carbonate - (NH4)2CO3, Ammonium bicarbonate - NH4HCO3, Ammonium sulfate - (NH4)2SO4,  and Ammonium nitrate - NH4NO3 are all ammonia salts that are constituents of high nitrogen fertilizers.

  So, as natural gas prices go up, so does the cost of manufacturing and supplying (as well as the price of buying) high nitrogen fertilizers.

  Regards,

  SKB
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