Brief description of the production process
Pyrolysis manufacturing
People have used charcoal as fuel for thousands of years, and its manufacture is simple: burn wood, straw or crop waste in an oxygen-deficient environment, and the resulting substance is charcoal. The traditional method is to cover the ignited biomass with earth and let it burn flamelessly for a long time.
Pyrolysis to make biochar
Large-scale industrial production of charcoal by traditional methods is impractical. Researchers have set their sights on the "pyrolysis" method - at high temperatures of 500°C to 600°C, placing organic substances in an oxygen-deprived state for controlled pyrolysis. In addition to yielding charcoal, pyrolysis can produce by-products such as syngas and liquid tar, both of which can be used as fuel for power generation or heating. The yield of biochar depends on the speed of the pyrolysis process. Rapid pyrolysis can yield 20% biochar, 20% syngas and 60% bio-oil. And slow pyrolysis can produce 50% charcoal and a small amount of oil. The British Institute for Management and Sustainable Development believes that because modern pyrolysis plants can run entirely on syngas, the energy produced is three to nine times the energy cost required.
People have used charcoal as fuel for thousands of years, and its manufacture is simple: burn wood, straw or crop waste in an oxygen-deficient environment, and the resulting substance is charcoal. The traditional method is to cover the ignited biomass with earth and let it burn flamelessly for a long time.
Pyrolysis to make biochar
Large-scale industrial production of charcoal by traditional methods is impractical. Researchers have set their sights on the "pyrolysis" method - at high temperatures of 500°C to 600°C, placing organic substances in an oxygen-deprived state for controlled pyrolysis. In addition to yielding charcoal, pyrolysis can produce by-products such as syngas and liquid tar, both of which can be used as fuel for power generation or heating. The yield of biochar depends on the speed of the pyrolysis process. Rapid pyrolysis can yield 20% biochar, 20% syngas and 60% bio-oil. And slow pyrolysis can produce 50% charcoal and a small amount of oil. The British Institute for Management and Sustainable Development believes that because modern pyrolysis plants can run entirely on syngas, the energy produced is three to nine times the energy cost required.