Grant: Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 2
Olds College
$54,042.00
Rapid scale-up and product evaluation of densified biochar in three market areas
EF 2014-15
Résumé
The Carbon Basis Company (CBC) and Olds College are developing a unique solution to the problem ofbiochar densification that will allow biochar to enter a number of commercial markets such as animal nutrition,horticulture and for biodiesel polishing. Government and non-governmental organizations are focused onexpanding biochar use beyond niche research themes and into the general market in Canada and the UnitedStates. Applied researchers are interested in the use of biochar as horticultural and soil amendments and areconducting trials to demonstrate its effectiveness and to quantify the carbon sequestration potential of biochar.While a considerable number of research projects are investigating the manufacture of biochar, little has beendone to convert biochar to a commercially-useful product. Carbon Basis Company asserts that commercialsuccess of biochar requires that it be put into a physical form, such as a pellet or prill, which allows forconvenient handling, transportation and application (i.e. spreading). The low bulk density and value of rawbiochar means that transportation costs limit its economic reach, so the CBC strategy to develop smaller,mobile pelleting and packaging systems will allow greater market reach of a densified product. A combinationof proprietary manufacturing methods along with a branding strategy to create a new greenhouse gasemissions-neutral product marketed under a trademark 'ClimateStar' will overcome the constraints thatpresently limit widescale commercial deployment of biochar.This project will focus on product development oftwo types biochar pellets: those with and without sulfur. Sulfur-enhanced pellets will be used to evaluatepotential for livestock feed ingredient on a small (72 head) feed efficiency trial. Biochar pellets will be used toevaluate the potential to absorb water and other contaminants from biodiesel at pilot manufacturing scale(previously demonstrated at lab scale). Biochar pellets will also be used to demonstrate partial replacement ofpeat and other environmentally questionable growth media in greenhouse horticultural practices.
Programme
Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 2
Bénéficiaire
Emplacement
Alberta, Canada
Type de bénéficiaire
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
Tel que publié
Application id
461500-2013
Name nom
McDonald, Tanya
Department département
Agriculture, School of
Organization id
1802
Institution établissement
Olds College
Province en
Alberta
Province fr
Alberta
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2014
Competition year année de concours
2013
Award amount
54042
Program id
CARD2
Program name en
Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 2
Program name fr
Subventions de recherche et développement appliquée - niveau 2
Group en
Research partnerships programs
Group fr
Programmes de partenariat
Committee code
1561
Committee name en
Applied Research and Development Grants
Committee name fr
Subventions de recherche et développement appliquée
Area of application code
101
Area of application group en
Agriculture and primary food production
Area of application group fr
Agriculture et produits alimentaires primaires
Area of application en
Animal production and animal primary products
Area of application fr
Production animale et produits animaux primaires
Research subject code
5511
Research subject group en
Animal biology
Research subject group fr
Biologie animale
Research subject en
Animal nutrition and husbandry
Research subject fr
Nutrition et élevage des animaux
Partie
1
Nb partie
2
Application title
Rapid scale-up and product evaluation of densified biochar in three market areas
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
The Carbon Basis Company (CBC) and Olds College are developing a unique solution to the problem ofbiochar densification that will allow biochar to enter a number of commercial markets such as animal nutrition,horticulture and for biodiesel polishing. Government and non-governmental organizations are focused onexpanding biochar use beyond niche research themes and into the general market in Canada and the UnitedStates. Applied researchers are interested in the use of biochar as horticultural and soil amendments and areconducting trials to demonstrate its effectiveness and to quantify the carbon sequestration potential of biochar.While a considerable number of research projects are investigating the manufacture of biochar, little has beendone to convert biochar to a commercially-useful product. Carbon Basis Company asserts that commercialsuccess of biochar requires that it be put into a physical form, such as a pellet or prill, which allows forconvenient handling, transportation and application (i.e. spreading). The low bulk density and value of rawbiochar means that transportation costs limit its economic reach, so the CBC strategy to develop smaller,mobile pelleting and packaging systems will allow greater market reach of a densified product. A combinationof proprietary manufacturing methods along with a branding strategy to create a new greenhouse gasemissions-neutral product marketed under a trademark 'ClimateStar' will overcome the constraints thatpresently limit widescale commercial deployment of biochar.This project will focus on product development oftwo types biochar pellets: those with and without sulfur. Sulfur-enhanced pellets will be used to evaluatepotential for livestock feed ingredient on a small (72 head) feed efficiency trial. Biochar pellets will be used toevaluate the potential to absorb water and other contaminants from biodiesel at pilot manufacturing scale(previously demonstrated at lab scale). Biochar pellets will also be used to demonstrate partial replacement ofpeat and other environmentally questionable growth media in greenhouse horticultural practices.
