Biochar
We have the ability to produce a wide variety of biochars with our horizontal bed kiln, ranging in process temperature from sub 300° C to 750° C. Our modular post-pyrolysis processing systems can apply a wide range of treatments, including a simple water quench, a light acid wash to increase initial cation exchange capacity and decompose any residual poly aromatic hydrocarbons, nutrient impregnation, steam activation, and particle size reduction.
As discussed on our rationale page, the structural characteristics and biochemical properties of biochar affect its performance in a given application to a very significant degree.1 2 Hence the term “biochar” describes a family of diverse products rather than a single thing.3 4 To produce biochar for a given need, whether it is to increase soil fertility, maintain livestock health as a feed amendment, remediate contaminated soils or act as a filtration medium, the pyrolysis process must be variable and precise, and the biomass feedstock must be appropriate. Each particle of biomass must receive the exact same heat treatment, and the operator must be able to customize that heat treatment and the post-pyrolysis treatment, so the biochar particles produced have the properties needed for the application.
If biochar is used to increase soil fertility, we recommend that it be prepared to emulate humic matter as it is in soil.
Wood Vinegar
Wood vinegar, also known as pyroligneous acid, is a byproduct of our horizontal bed kiln. Our precise, staged pyrolysis method extracts wood vinegar from the condensates of the gases emitted up to 280° C. Research has shown that this is the ideal temperature range for wood vinegar to be used for agricultural purposes.5
Wood vinegar contains over 200 organic compounds, including acetic acid, methanol and furfural. It is widely used in Asian countries as a plant growth and germination stimulant. An amazing amount of in depth, open access research has been done on a wide variety uses for wood vinegar in Asia (see 6 for example), and much of it is freely available in English via Google Scholar.