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Bioenergy and Land StewardshipAugust 10, 2006

Danny DayEprida

Bob Evans, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, COJames Lee, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN

Don Reicosky, USDA Soil Conservation, Morris, MNK.C. Das, University of Georgia, Athens, Ga

Matthew Realf and Ling ZhangGeorgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA

Environmental Solutions to Benefit our Future

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What is this talk about? The effects of charcoal produced

through pyrolysis Using charcoal to adsorb Ammonia Using charcoal to remove NOx and

SOx from flue gas Carbon Negative energy and

Carbon Sequestration

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What is pyrolysis

•It is a well understood globally, wherever charcoal is made

•Simple system improvements allow for the capture and use of pyrolytic off-gases (ex: Cars/Trucks in Sweden were converted to run off wood gas during WWII)

•Pyrolytic conversion does not destroy the porous carbon structure created by nature

•Pyrolysis is natural. Nature has spent billions of years building systems and life forms that can take advantage conversion of biomass created by natural fires

•Pyrolysis can offer attractive economics for hydrogen (as well as bio-oil) production partly because of the options for co-product production* *Spath, et al, Update of Hydrogen from Biomass -Determination of the Delivered Cost of Hydrogen, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Milestone Report for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Hydrogen Program 2001

Charcoal is produced by heating biomass with limited air. This process is called pyrolysis

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Progression of Pyrolysis

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Typical TGA of Pyrolysis

As temperature increases

Weight decreases

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Progression of Pyrolysis

Well designed continuous process systems can be self-sustaining

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1. Optimal Zone for energy extraction

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2. Complete devolatilizationRequires addition of energy (and/or oxygen)Our investment for a sustainable planet

To maximize carbon storage mankind

should use Zone 1

Zone 2 is best for microbial life

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The World’s Lost Energy

A sustainable hydrogen supply cannot be separated from agriculture as it forms a key link to delivered soil nitrogen

Under modern agriculture, hydrogen is used to make ammonia fertilizer which is used for food production.

(i.e. Hydrogen=Food)

Hydrogen Uses

Agricultural Fertilizer

Oil Refineries

Methanol

Chem-Proc, Other

Space Programs

Smoke from smoldering fires represents lost energy that can produce hydrogen.

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Charcoal Research in Japan and Asia

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NPKcharcoal

control

NPK

charcoal

Effect of bark charcoal and fertilizer on the plant growth and soil properties in south Sumatra (Yamato 2004 unpublished)

control

Bark Charcoal and Fertilizer

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3 Year Field Trial Studies

Christoph Steiner1, W. G. Teixeira2, J. Lehmann3 and W. Zech1

1 Institute of Soil Science, University of Bayreuth, Germany- 2 Embrapa Amazonia Ocidental, Manaus, Brazil

-3 Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Cornell University, USA

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3 Year Results Summary

Christoph Steiner1, W. G. Teixeira2, J. Lehmann3 and W. Zech1

1 Institute of Soil Science, University of Bayreuth, Germany- 2 Embrapa Amazonia Ocidental, Manaus, Brazil

-3 Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Cornell University, USA

49% ave crop yield increase over the 3 year study

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Simple but also complex

Nature has spent billions of years Nature has spent billions of years evolving ecosystems to utilize charcoal evolving ecosystems to utilize charcoal and its byproducts.and its byproducts.

We are just now uncovering the science We are just now uncovering the science behind this fascinating story and the behind this fascinating story and the possibilities may yet provide solutions to possibilities may yet provide solutions to many of our most intractable problems.many of our most intractable problems.

Adding Charcoal to the ground seems easy enough but the impact is far from simple.

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The answer is in the smoke

C. Steiner, M. Garcia, B. Förster and W. Zech

In this In this experiment, experiment, condensed condensed smoke was smoke was added to added to

charcoal and charcoal and kaolin. kaolin.

The impact was The impact was the same as the same as

adding glucose adding glucose to these to these

materials. materials.

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A perfect home for microbes

The germination rate of G. margarita was higher than that on soil (Ogawa 1991)

Bacterial populations show marked increase with charcoal addition

(Beijerinckia, Ogawa 1992)

Note the 3 fold increase

Charcoal provides a preferred habitat for soil micro organisms

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Before 1998 Sep.

Ogawa 1999, Kansai Environmental

Charcoal has Benefits for Existing Forests

Recovering of Pine Tree from Wilting by Charcoal Treatment after a year

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Before 1998 Sep.

The growth of pine root and mycorrhiza formation started at 5 to 6 months after treatment

After 1999 Oct.

Ogawa 1999, Kansai Environmental

Results of Charcoal Treatment after a year

Charcoal has Benefits for Existing ForestsResults of Charcoal Treatment after a year

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Global Charcoal Research

Other charcoal benefits

• Surface oxidation of the char increased the cation exchange capacity (Glaser)

• Char increased the available-water holding capacity by 18% more than surrounding soils (Glaser)

• Char experiments have shown up to 266% more biomass growth (2nd Yr Steiner) and 324% (Kishimoto and Sugiura)

• Plant nitrogen uptake doubled in charcoal amended soils (Steiner)

• Charcoal has proven helpful in reducing farm chemical runoff (Yelverton)

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Optimizing a charcoal fertilizer

Leaching Examination of Different Chars

77.5

88.5

99.510

100ml Rinse - Char Sample 20.0g

pH

900 C

600 C

450 C

400 C

Chars were produced at 900, 600, 500, 450, and 400C.

Crushed and sieved to #30 mesh, wt 20g.

Soaked 5 min. in 48% NH4NO3

solution. Each rinse = 100

ml water 8.0 pHMost stabilized Most stabilized after a few rinsesafter a few rinses

But at chars produced 400 C But at chars produced 400 C released ammonia very graduallyreleased ammonia very gradually

We conducted leaching experiments on a variety of chars

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A Novel Twist.

In September, 2002, this story took a novel twist.

A patent was granted to the Oak Ridge National Laboratory for capturing CO2, SOx and NOx from flue gas.

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Improving a multi-emissions scrubbing system

HNO + H SO NH NO + (NH ) SO3 2 4 4 3 4 2 4NO SO X X

CH or H NH NH HCO or (NH ) CO4 2 3 4 3 2 2

Catalysis

Catalysis +H O2

N 2 CO 2

Flue-gas

CO

H O2

+

Oak Ridge National Laboratory Oak Ridge National Laboratory US Patent 6,447,437US Patent 6,447,437

OAK RIDGE NATIONAL LABORATORYU. S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

We saw an We saw an improvement improvement and set out and set out

to to demonstrate demonstrate

it.it.

Chemical Pathways for Simultaneous Removal of Major CO2

and ppm Levels of NOx and SOx Emissions by Innovative Application of the Fertilizer Production Reactions

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Combining Two Approaches

OAK RIDGE NATIONAL LABORATORYU. S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Integration of Ammonia Carbonation and Biomass Pyrolysis for Carbon Management

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Bench Scale NH3-CO2-Char Experiment

OAK RIDGE NATIONAL LABORATORYU. S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

CO2 + H20*NH3 Solidifies into Am-Bi-Carb

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The Resulting Fertilizer

HNO + H SO NH NO + (NH ) SO3 2 4 4 3 4 2 4NO SO X X

CH or H NH NH HCO or (NH ) CO4 2 3 4 3 2 2

Catalysis

Catalysis +H O2

N 2 CO 2

Flue-gas

CO

H O2

+

Oak Ridge National Laboratory Oak Ridge National Laboratory US Patent 6,447,437US Patent 6,447,437

OAK RIDGE NATIONAL LABORATORYU. S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Typical Composition of the

Resulting Nitrogen Compounds

97.5% Ammonium Bicarbonate2% Ammonium Sulfate

0.5% Ammonium Nitrate

Chemical Pathways for Simultaneous Removal of Major CO2

and ppm Levels of NOx and SOx Emissions by Innovative Application of the Fertilizer Production Reactions

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30 Min Granular

15 Min sand likeOriginal Char

PilotTest

•Operated at ambient pressure and Operated at ambient pressure and temperaturetemperature

•CO2 separation is not requiredCO2 separation is not required

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Crushed Interior 2000x SEM

The residual cell structure of the original biomass is clearly visible

The ABC fibrous buildup has started inside the carbon structure

After complete processing, interior is full

Trace minerals are returned to the soil along with essential nitrogen.

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A Simple System

Profit Centers

Exhaust Scrubbin

g

Fertilizer

2.7x H2per CO This can be used to

producea carbon negative

Fischer-Tropsch Diesel

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• Ammonia

Remember Co-Products = Sustainability

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Can biomass streams be as competitive fossil fuels?Yes.

Biomass becomes more competitive as as fuel prices rise

Profits are made on co-products not just fuels.

Proportionate funding of research and commercial support

Homogenous standards and testing

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Agricultural use offers Carbon Negative Energy

-150 -100 -50 0 50 100

Carbon Negative Energy

Solar Pv (mean)

Natural Gas

LPG

Propane

Gasoline

Diesel

Bituminous

Fu

el

Carbon Dioxide per GJ of Various Fuels

CO2 kg / GJU.S. EPA

Special thanks to Stefan Czernick and Mathew Realff

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A Sustainable SystemForEnergy and Agriculture

NC

NC

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NCBiomass

Energy CropsCarbonaceous

Sources

BiomassEnergy CropsCarbonaceous

SourcesRecycled Carbon + Nitrogen + Micronutrients

Carbon

used forscrubbingCO2/SOx/NOx

NH3

+

NC

NC

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A Sustainable System for Energy and Agriculture

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© 2004 Eprida Contact: Danny.Day@eprida.com

H2Liquid Fuels: F-T Diesel / Gasoline/

Power to Electricity

2H2

CO

Methanol /DME

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Thank You

Danny DayCEO/President

EPRIDAhttp://www.eprida.com

danny.day@eprida.com 706-316-1765

University of Georgia Bioconversion Center1151 E. Whitehall Rd, Athens, GA 30605