Biochar compositions and methods of use thereof
AssigneeFull Circle Biochar, Inc.
InventorsDavid Shearer, John Gaunt
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Abstract
The invention provides for methods, devices, and systems for pyrolyzing biomass. A pyrolysis unit can be used for the pyrolysis of biomass to form gas, liquid, and solid products. The biomass materials can be selected such that an enhanced biochar is formed after pyrolysis. The biomass can be pyrolyzed under specified conditions such that a selected biochar core is formed. The pyrolysis process can form a stable biochar core that is inert and/or resistant to degradation. The biochar or biochar core can be functionalized to form a functionalized biochar or functionalized biochar core. Functionalized can include post-pyrolysis treatments such as supplementation with microbes or physical transformations including annealing and/or activation.
Claims21
A method for preparing a soil amendment comprising:
- providing a biomass to a pyrolysis unit;
- pyrolyzing the biomass in the pyrolysis unit to produce a stable biochar core that has a rate of degradation that is less than 2.5% per year, wherein the biomass is pyrolyzed at a heating rate from 0.01° C./second up to 1000° C./second and at least one of (i) a temperature greater than 250° C. and (ii) a heating time greater than 0.001 days;
- and
- using the stable biochar to form a soil amendment for placement in a soil bed, wherein the soil amendment has a total phosphorus and a total nitrogen content that provides a concentration of available phosphorus and available nitrogen suitable to promote growth of an organism in the soil bed, which concentration of available phosphorus is at least about 1 part per million (ppm) and available nitrogen is at least about 1 ppm.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.