In Iowa, Iowa State University researchers weren’t looking for a slow-release fertilizer that could feed crops while protecting water quality, but they may have found one. Researchers looking to add value to biochar – a solid, porous co-product of heating corn stalks and other sources of biomass to produce liquid bio-oil in a process called […]
In Colorado, Cool Planet has closed on $19.3 million in Series A financing and note conversion to commercialize its Cool Terra and Cool Fauna engineered biocarbon products. This latest round of funding was led by Agustín Coppel and North Bridge Venture Partners. All together, Cool Planet has raised nearly $30 million in the last 18 […]
By Hugh McLaughlin, PhD, PE — Lee Enterprise Consulting, Inc. Special to The Digest Biochar is an emerging market; growing rapidly, still in its infancy, but with gigaton market potential when we, as in humanity, start addressing the climate crisis. Activated carbons are a mature market of about one million tons annual production, which is […]
In Canada, the Pacific Institute of Climate Solutions’s recent publication, Industrial and Market Development of Biochar in BC, has been lauded by BC Bioenergy Network. “Over the past few years, the global biochar industry has been progressing towards commercial production facilities,” stated Michael Weedon, Executive Director of BC Bioenergy Network. “BC has natural hosting conditions […]
In Spain, researchers have developed a biochar blend to help improve the quality of soil and crop yields, which could be useful for the cultivation of biofuel feedstocks. The Spanish project has demonstrated encouraging results, as the biochar they have developed enhances the soil quality, moisture retention, and pH qualities. This type of blend would […]
In Colorado, Cool Planet announced the launch of their biochar soil amendment product “Cool Terra” for commercial agricultural trials. Rick Wilson, Vice President of the Cool Planet Biochar Group, made the announcement at the 2013 US Biochar conference. It plans to continue expanding application opportunities with selected partners in the agricultural community leading to commercial […]
In Texas, Rice University scientists have used synthetic biology to study how a popular soil amendment called “biochar” can interfere with the chemical signals that some microbes use to communicate. The class of compounds studied includes those used by some plant pathogens to coordinate their attacks. Study co-author Joff Silberg, associate professor of biochemistry and […]
In Kansas, University of Kansas has tested a hydtrothermal liquefaction integrated wastewater algea-to-biocrude process for cultivating algal biomass. The study influenced liquefaction product distribution to yield a higher proportion of biochar, a valuable co-product. “HTL uses subcritical water as the chemical driving force to convert biomass to a carbon-rich biocrude. Using microalgal feedstocks, biocrude yields […]
In New Jersey, Stevens Institute of Technology students have designed a biochar electrode replacement for traditional activated carbon electrodes, used in superconductors. The three students, Katie Van Strander, Liana Vaccari and Rachel Kenion, as part of their project, designed, produced and tested their prototype, and successfully demonstrated that their electrode can work in a superconductor. […]
