Paper details

Title:

Grass Biochar - From Lab- to Farm-Scale

Author(s):

Heinrich, T., Hoffmann, T., Álvarez-López V., Park, H., Orozco R., Ding, Z., Mosquera Losada, M.R., Libra, J.

Document(s):

Abstract:

In the EU, approximately 17.4% of the surface area is covered by grasslands. However, over the past years increasing areas have been abandoned or underutilized. Various innovative approaches to manage such grasslands for novel products are being investigated in the GO-GRASS project. This article reports on the approach of producing biochar. This approach is particularly suitable for late-harvest or other lignified grass, which has a very low quality for utilization as feed or as feedstock for biogas production. Chars have been produced from grasses via pyrolysis and hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) on lab-scale as well as larger-scale equipment. The goal is to produce chars suitable for utilization as a soil amendment on the basis of the European Biochar Certificate (EBC). Multiple technological approaches are being investigated on lab-scale, including HTC and pyrolysis in an inert as well as autothermal pyrolysis in a controlled low oxygen environment (fixed bed). Furthermore, upscaling to existing commercial equipment for farm-scale production is being examined. The focus of this investigation is placed on evaluating the feasibility of utilizing grass in farm-scale plants and the suitability of the produced char as soil amendment. Additionally the required framework for the utilization of thermochemical conversion on farm level will be discussed and its economy assessed. It was found that good quality biochar can be produced from grass. The combined heat and biochar production, based on a farms heat requirements is very promising for the utilization of surplus biomass, may provide a multitude of benefits for the farm’s and can be economically feasible.

Keywords:

heat, pyrolysis, biochar, CO₂ reduction

Topic:

Biomass Conversion to Bio-Based Products and Chemicals

Subtopic:

Processes for bio-based chemicals and materials

Event:

30th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition

Session:

6AO.3.1

Pages:

986 - 992

ISBN:

978-88-89407-22-6

Paper DOI:

10.5071/30thEUBCE2022-6AO.3.1

Price:

FREE