Significant breakthrough in biochar cost reduction

The advantages of biochar application in crop production, water treatment and more are well known; however, the manufacturing cost (roughly 500USD t(-1)) prevents its expansion into the commercial scale. The very first apparatus which continuously produces the biochar from the fermentation residue by utilizing waste heat from the cogeneration unit linked to the biogas station was designed and analyzed. The manifestations of the pyrolysis retention time and the operating temperature were studied in detail. The results supported by corresponding financial analysis show that the biochar obtained had sufficient quality, and the concept may be economically viable once the cost may be negligible in a long term.