General BioChar Information
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What is CQuest™ Fast Pyrolysis BioChar (“BioChar”)?
BioChar is a significant co-product of the pyrolysis process having properties comparable to coke and is virtually sulphur free. At 28-29 GJ per tonne, pyrolysis BioChar has a higher heating value than many grades of coal. Like BioOil® and BioOil Plus®, it is a “green” fuel that is CO2 neutral.
BioChar Properties and How They Compare with Conventional Solid Fuels
Table 1: Ultimate analysis of different coal (% by wt) and wood based BioChar
| Coal 1 | Carbon | Hydrogen | Sulphur | Nitrogen | Ash | Btu/lb |
| Pennsylvania | 65.8 | 4.6 | 2.3 | 1.4 | 19.8 | 11,818 |
| Ohio | 64.2 | 5 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 16 | 11,478 |
| West Virginia | 72.1 | 4.8 | 1 | 1.4 | 11.7 | 12,643 |
| Kentucky | 70.9 | 5.1 | 2.3 | 1.5 | 9.8 | 12,637 |
| Illinois | 73.7 | 5.1 | 2.3 | 1.6 | 7.9 | 13,192 |
| Biomass 2 | ||||||
| Douglas Fir | 52.3 | 6.3 | 0 | 0.1 | 0.8 | 9,069 |
| Hickory | 47.67 | 6.49 | 0 | 0 | 0.73 | 8,690 |
| Maple | 50.64 | 6.02 | 0 | 0.25 | 1.35 | 8,599 |
| Ponderosa Pine | 49.25 | 5.99 | 0.03 | 0.06 | 0.29 | 8,625 |
| Peat | 54.81 | 5.38 | .11 | .89 | 3.00 | 9,478 |
| Poplar | 51.64 | 6.26 | 0 | 0 | 0.65 | 8,939 |
Typical Dynamotive BioChar |
75-78 | 3-4 | <0.1 | <0.3 | 5-12 | 12,000-12,500 |
Table 2: Composition of BioChar for white wood residues
| Physical property | Typical Range |
| Moisture Content (% wt.) | <2.5 |
| Volatile Content (% wt.) | 16-23 |
| Heating Value (btu/lb) | 12,000-12,500 |
| Heating Value (GJ/tonne) | 28-29 |
| Particle Size (mm) | <1 |
Table 3: Example of Analysis of the Ash in BioChar (Ash content: ~ 8% w/w)
(Metals scan by OES-ICP)| Al Aluminium | mg/kg |
300 |
| As Arsenic | mg/kg |
< 10 |
| Ba Barium | mg/kg |
51.6 |
| B Boron | mg/kg |
17 |
| Cd Cadmium | mg/kg |
< 1 |
| Ca Calcium | mg/kg |
6460 |
| Cr Chromium | mg/kg |
151 |
| Co Cobalt | mg/kg |
< 2 |
| Cu Copper | mg/kg |
2 |
| Fe Iron | mg/kg |
400 |
| Pb Lead | mg/kg |
< 10 |
| Li Lithium | mg/kg |
< 1 |
| Mg Magnesium | mg/kg |
1230 |
| Mn Manganese | mg/kg |
179 |
| Mo Molybdenum | mg/kg |
< 10 |
| Ni Nickel | mg/kg |
< 50 |
| P Phosphorus | mg/kg |
180 |
| K Potassium | mg/kg |
6080 |
| Si Silicon | mg/kg |
3350 |
| Na Sodium | mg/kg |
110 |
| Sr Strontium | mg/kg |
22 |
| Ti Titanium | mg/kg |
1.1 |
| V Vanadium | mg/kg |
< 0.5 |
| Zn Zinc | mg/kg |
11 |
BioChar Applications – Current and Potential
Early stage applications of BioChar are focused on direct substitution or augmentation of fossil fuels to produce process heat and power in the applications and markets described below.BioChar Production and its Importance as a Low Sulphur Fuel
In the pyrolysis of wood about 20% of the feedstock is converted to BioChar. As the BioChar is essentially sulphur free it becomes a very valuable substitute for other industrial fuels, fired alone or in particular when blended with BioOil as it can then be fired as a liquid. We call this blend BioOil Plus and is available as a commercial product as such. By blending the BioChar significantly augments the heat value of the BioOil and its heat content on volumetric basis. In liquid blend the firing of BioChar becomes particularly relevant to a multitude of fuel applications in industrial and utility boilers as it obviously provides the simplest route to SOx reduction in stack emission.Briquette Manufacturing/pelletizing
BioChar can be used as feedstock for manufacturing charcoal briquettes/pellets. Royal Oak tested Dynamotive BioChar and found the briquettes performed well.Cement
Cement plants typically burn solid fuels or natural gas to provide heat for their limekilns. Minimizing transportation costs gives the best financial return for BioChar in this application, while also producing substantial carbon benefits. This is especially the case where current energy use is highly carbon intensive.Thermal Power Generation
Co-firing of biomass with coal is becoming an increasingly attractive strategy for reducing emissions from coal fired utilities. As the BioChar is CO2 neutral and contains virtually no sulphur, emissions are reduced in proportion to the amount of coal displaced in the power boiler. Minimizing transportation costs will again deliver a high financial return for BioChar in this application while offering dramatic reductions in emissions.Ammonium Bicarbonate (NH4HCO3) Fertilizer
Simply burying BioChar in the soil is beneficial. Adding up to 10% BioChar increases fertility in most soils, and if nitrogen is added to the BioChar it produces an even more effective fertilizer. The Eprida ECOSS process came with the discovery that if ammonia (NH3), carbon dioxide (CO2) gas and water (H2O), are combined in the presence of BioChar they will form a solid, ammonium bicarbonate (NH4HCO3) in the pores of the BioChar.Mid to Long Term Opportunities
In addition to the applications described above, BioChar may be an appropriate feedstock for higher value applications that will require further development. These include the following:Activated Carbon
Nonporous BioChar can be converted to highly porous activated BioChar by steam treatment at elevated temperature (>500°C) to produce high surface area (> 1000m2/g) activated carbon.Table 5: Analysis of surface area and porosity of activated and non-activated (virgin) BioChar 3
| Sample ID | Surface Area, m2/g |
Pore Volume, cc/g |
Average Pore |
BioChar |
||
Total |
Micropore |
Total |
Micropore |
Diameter, Ǻ |
Yield, Wt % |
|
| Virgin BioChar | 1.6 | 1.6 | 0.001 | 0.001 | - | - |
| AC800, 1.5h,150,2:1 | 805 | 390 | 0.65 | 0.18 | 24.12 | 31.45 |
| AC800,1h,R1 | 1400 | 926 | 0.69 | 0.43 | 14.55 | 64 |
BioChar Pellets
BioChar can be used as a raw material to manufacture fuel pellets for use in domestic and industrial heating markets. This market is currently supplied by wood pellet products manufactured in Canada, the US and the EU. Fuel pellets made from BioChar would have a higher energy density than wood pellets.Synthesis Gas Production/Gasification
BioOil, BioOil Plus, and BioChar can be a well fitting feedstock for the production of medium to high BTU synthesis gas via gasification. Successful lab-scale experiments have been performed at the University of Saskatchewan in cooperation with NRCan and CANMET labs. Additional successful gasification tests on BioOil/BioChar slurry (with 30% of BioChar content) have been performed by Dynamotive, Future Energy and FZK (research centers based in Germany) in September 2005.Steel/Metallurgical
BioChar may be an appropriate substitute for high value anthracite coal, which is typically used in metallurgical applications such as iron production. A definition of the critical physical properties of metallurgical coal must be developed/obtained and the BioChar refined or conditioned to meet the requirements of the industry. Further investigation of this application is required.Carbon Black
Carbon black is a purified form of carbon with many applications, including ink-jet printer ink and tire manufacturing. To compete in this market will require further processing / conditioning of pyrolysis BioChar.
General Requirements
To be authorized to carry the EcoLogo™, the solid biofuel must satisfy the following:Product Specific Requirements
To be authorized to carry the EcoLogo™, the solid biofuel:Combustion Testing – Onix Solid Burner, Montpellier OH
BioChar Combustion Test - Onix
The test began by burning wood and heating up the combustion chamber to 1700°F (927°C). The burning test duration lasted 3 hours for the wood and 1 ½ hours for the BioChar on the first day, following a repeat run on the second day. With both runs the feed supply to the combustion chamber worked smoothly and without problems. The steam exhaust leaving the combustion chamber in both tests appeared crystal clear; visible smoke free and without sparks.Table 4: Data of BioChar burning test in Onix solid burner
Date: Nov. 9, 2006| Emission concentration (v/v) | ||
| Oxygen % | 11.7 | 11 |
| CO ppm | 2 | 2 |
| CO2 % | 9 | 9.7 |
| NO ppm | 73 | 75 |
| NO2 ppm | 0 | 0 |
| NOx ppm | 73 | 75 |
| CO ppm @ (O2 = 15%) | 2 | 1 |
| NOx ppm @ (O2 = 15%) | 47 | 45 |
| Emission rate (kg/hr) | ||
| CO (kg/hr) | 0.0018 | 0.0018 |
| NO (kg/hr) | 0.0716 | 0.0736 |
| NO2 (kg/hr) | 0 | 0 |
| NOx (kg/hr) | 0.0716 | 0.0736 |
| Emission rate (kg/GJ) | ||
| CO (kg/GJ) | 0.0012 | 0.0012 |
| NOx (kg/GJ) as NO | 0.0480 | 0.0493 |
Storage and transport temperature
BioChar is a flammable solid and TDG class 4.2 dangerous goods. BioChar contains 16-23 % by weight of organic volatile compounds. BioChar is produced within seconds in the fast pyrolysis reactor and is rapidly removed from the carrier process gas stream by cyclones. Following this the BioChar is cooled to about 40°C.To stabilise stored BioChar:
Shipment of BioChar
At the moment, Dynamotive is exploring different alternatives based on standard industry practices of hazardous goods transport to ensure shipping and storage safety regarding BioChar’s auto ignition properties.MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET
HAZARDOUS INGREDIENTS:
Ingredients |
CAS Registry Number |
Concentration (%-weight/weight) |
Carbon |
7440-44-0 |
from 60 to 75 % |
PREPARATION INFORMATION:
Prepared by:Corporate Headquarters
Angus Corporate Centre| T: (604) 267-6000 |
| T: 1-877-863-2268 |
| F: (604) 267-6005 |
| info@dynamotive.com |
Dynamotive USA, Inc. |
First Resources Corporation |
Dynamotive Latinoamericana |
| 1650 Tysons Boulevard Suite 1550 McLean, VA 22102 U.S.A. |
6520 Salish Drive Vancouver, BC V6N 2C7 Canada |
Av. Quintana 585, 6º piso (C1129ABB) Buenos Aires Argentina |
| T: (703) 336-8450 | T: (604) 267-6040 | T: (54 11) 4802 2220 |
| F: (703) 336-8462 | F: (604) 267-6005 | F: (54 11) 4802 1211 |
PRODUCT IDENTIFICATION:
| Manufacturer: | Emergency Phone Numbers: |
|
Dynamotive Energy Systems Corporation Angus Corporate Centre 1700 West 75th Avenue Suite 230 Vancouver BC V6P 6G2 |
Dynamotive (604) 267-6000CANUTEC (24 hours) (613) 996-6666 |
| Product name: | CQuest™ Fast Pyrolysis BioChar (“BioChar”) |
| Chemical family: | Carbon |
| Chemical name: | Carbon |
| Formula: | C |
| Synonyms: | Wood Charcoal |
| UN number: | UN1361 |
| TDG Shipping Name: | Carbon, vegetable origin |
| TDG Classification: | Class 4.2, Packing group II |
PHYSICAL DATA:
| Physical State: | Granular or fine powder |
| Color: | Black |
| Odour: | Charred odour |
| Volatile Content (% wt.): | 18 - 30 |
| Ash Content (% wt.): | 1 - 25 |
| Carbon Content (% wt.): | 60 - 75 |
| pH: | Not available |
| Solubility in Water: | Insoluble |
| Bulk Density: | 250 - 350 kg/M3 |
| Vapor Pressure: | Not available |
| Vapor Density: | Not available |
FIRE AND EXPLOSION HAZARD:
| WHMIS Classification: | Class B, Division 4, Flammable solids |
| Unusual Fire / Explosion Hazards: | BioChar dust 0.055 kg/M3 is the minimum explosion concentration. Freshly produced pyrolytic Char may be subject to auto ignition and spontaneous heating, when exposed to air and/or oxygen. |
| Flash Point: | Not applicable. |
| Auto-ignition Temperature: | 200 °C for fresh BioChar; 400 °C for aged BioChar. |
| Extinguishing Media: | Water spray or foam. |
| Note: | Do not use large solid sprays of water or foam as this can stir up dust clouds and cause flash fires. |
| Hazardous Combustion Product: | Carbon monoxide. |
REACTIVITY DATA:
| Stability: | Stable under ordinary conditions of use and storage. |
| Hazardous Polymerization: | Will not occur. |
| Incompatibilities: | Oxidizers |
| Instability Conditions: | Excessive temperatures |
| Hazardous Decomposition Products: | Carbon Monoxide and Carbon Dioxide |
TOXICOLOGICAL PROPERTIES:
| Route(s) of Entry: | Eye Contact; Skin Contact; Inhalation; Ingestion |
| Effects of Acute Exposure: | Coughing or mild breathing difficulties may result. |
| Inhalation: | May irritate mucous membranes and the respiratory tract. |
| Skin Contact: | May cause irritation. |
| Eye Contact: | May cause irritation. |
| Ingestion: | Not established. |
| Effects of Chronic Exposure: | Not established. |
| LC50: | Not available |
| LD50: | 440 mg/kg (intravenous mouse) |
| Exposure limits: | Not established |
| Irritancy: | No information available |
| Sensitizing capability: | No information available |
| Carcinogenicity: | No information available |
| Reproductive toxicity: | No information available |
| Teratogenicity: | No information available |
| Mutagenicity: | No information available |
PREVENTIVE MEASURES:
| Personal Protective Equipment: | |
| Eye Protection: | Safety glasses or goggles. |
| Skin Protection: | Latex or PVC gloves and apron or coveralls. |
| Respiratory Protection: | If dusting is a problem, a NIOSH/MSHA approved dust respirator must be worn. |
| Engineering Controls: | Use local ventilation if dusting is a problem. Eye wash stations must be available. |
| Storage Requirements: | Store at ambient temperature. Store away from oxidants in closed and properly labeled sacks or containers |
| Handling Procedures: | Avoid breathing dust. Avoid getting in eyes or on skin. Wash thoroughly after handling. Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, sources of ignition, and incompatible materials. Reseal containers immediately after use. Store away from food and beverages. |
| Spill or Leak Procedures: | Use recommended protective clothing and equipment. Clean spills in a manner that does not disperse dust into the air. Spill area can be washed with water. Collect wash water for approved disposal. Keep from entering water or ground water. |
| Disposal: | Waste disposal should be in accordance with existing federal, state/provincial and local environmental regulations. |
FIRST AID MEASURES:
| Skin: | In case of contact, wash skin with soap and water. Wash clothing before reuse. Seek medical attention if irritation occurs. |
| Eyes: | In case of contact, immediately flush eyes with lukewarm running water for at least 15 minutes, holding the eyelids open. Seek medical attention. |
| Inhalation: | If inhaled, remove victim to fresh air. If breathing has stopped, trained personnel should begin artificial respiration. If breathing is difficult, give oxygen. Seek medical attention. |
| Ingestion: | If swallowed, seek medical attention immediately. |
Patents and Intellectual Property
Protection of corporate intellectual property is a critical element of Dynamotive's strategy. The objective of Dynamotive's patent strategy is to protect and maximize the long-term benefits that can be derived from its technology leadership position. The Company aggressively protects the intellectual property it develops and intends to assert its patents rights when any infringement is identified.
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