Biochar Preparation for Soil Enhancement

Abstract

Slides from the presentation delivered by T. R. Marrero and H. J. Wulff at the MSPE Central Chapter Meeting, 44 Stone Public House, 3910 Peachtree Drive, Suite H, Columbia, MO. Over the last few years a brick plant in Wellsville, MO has been modified to receive biomass in one of the small kilns. The biomass is heated in absence of air (pyrolysis) to produce biochar. The burn down ratio is 25 percent. Northern Missouri has a large supply of corn stover which is a principal interest of biomass.The biochar is classified; coarse materials are enriched with nitrogen, smaller char particles can be used for other agricultural purposes and calcium carbide generation. This presentation will explain how a brick kiln can be modified to produce biochar and present many photographs of the semi-works facility; as well as selected results of the recent pro-forma.