I wonder if this is relevant: http://newscenter.lbl.gov/feature-stories/2011/10/05/soil-carbon/
"Michael Schmidt, a co-author of the Nature paper from the University of Zurich, has already found that biochar, which is charred material from wildfires or a kiln, is not stable as previously believed. It also readily decomposes. Some scientists had believed that biochar could be used to sequester carbon, but this may not be the case." On 10/6/11, Paul Harris <[email protected]> wrote: > G’day All, > > > > For the “non digesters” in particular some anaerobic digesters are packed > with plastic rings/balls or other media to provide a surface for bacteria, > so what Dr Karve has possibly done (I am guessing here) is provided “homes” > for a lot more bacteria so they are not washed out. This is good for > solutions but not so good if there are solids in the waste stream. > > > > The other possibility is that the extra carbon has restored the C:N ratio. > > > > Could you give more details of what you did Dr Karve, if it is possible (I > understand you may have some commercial interests to protect)? > > > > Happy digesting, > > HOOROO > > > > Mr. Paul Harris, Room 202 Charles Hawker Building, Faculty of Sciences, The > University of Adelaide, > > Waite Campus, PMB 1, Glen Osmond SA 5064 Ph : +61 8 8303 7880 Fax : > +61 8 8303 4386 > > Roseworthy Campus, Ph : +61 8 8303 7929 > > mailto:[email protected] > http://www.adelaide.edu.au/directory/paul.harris > > > > CRICOS Provider Number 00123M > > This email message is intended only for the addressee(s) and contains > information that may be confidential and/or copyright. If you are not the > intended recipient please notify the sender by reply email and immediately > delete this email. Use, disclosure or reproduction of this email by anyone > other than the intended recipient(s) is strictly prohibited. No > representation is made that this email or any attachments are free of > viruses. Virus scanning is recommended and is the responsibility of the > recipient. > > > > From: [email protected] > [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of > [email protected] > Sent: Thursday, 6 October 2011 1:35 PM > To: Anand Karve; [email protected]; Discussion of > biomass; biochar; digestion > Subject: [Digestion] Karve connecting Biochar and Biogas > > > > AD (cc four lists): > > I have not previously seen the connection between Biochar and Biogas > that you described (below) today on the gasification list. In > particular, you say you ".. filled the digester > with charcoal, my system accepted three times the normal daily input > and produced three times as much gas." > I think what you describe can be a very powerful push for both Biochar and > Biogas. Can you describe what you have learned a little more? > > I know too little of digesters, so this is not clear. I think I know > your kitchen-sized inverted "barrel" gas chamber and think I understand the > last part - of getting three times as much gas in the next 24 hours or less > (and 3X is a huge change!). Does the idea of accepting three times more > mean essentially the same thing? I would think you could "jam" any amount > in; what limits acceptance? > > Do you agree that this is very important new information? Do you agree > this information could help speed up both technologies? I believe there is > wide agreement that Biochar benefits from added biological material (that > would not be long-lived from a sequestration perspective). Is there any > reason to think that the traditional use of digester effluent for ag > improvements will be in any way harmed if it is continued through the > addition of carbon-negative Biochar? Should this not promote sales of your > charcoal-making stoves? > > If I haven't asked quite the right question - please answer the right > one. And congratulations on learning and reporting this. > > Ron > > -- Regards, Gary Jones _______________________________________________ Gasification mailing list to Send a Message to the list, use the email address [email protected] to UNSUBSCRIBE or Change your List Settings use the web page http://lists.bioenergylists.org/mailman/listinfo/gasification_lists.bioenergylists.org for more Gasifiers, News and Information see our web site: http://gasifiers.bioenergylists.org/
