Method for the bioactivation of biochar for use as a soil amendment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9493379-B2
Application number	US-201313798001-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 12, 2013
Priority date	Jul 25, 2011
Publication date	Nov 15, 2016
Grant date	Nov 15, 2016

Abstract

A method for the production of an agent for enhancing soil growth is described, comprising: grinding a biomass feedstock to produce ground biomass particles; subjecting the ground biomass particles to a biofractioning process including an auger reactor; selectively collecting at least one volatile component as it is released from the ground biomass particles; collecting a last remaining nonvolatile component comprising BMF char; rendering a surface of the BMF char hydrophilic; exposing the BMF char to microorganisms; and adding the BMF char to soil.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for the production of an agent for enhancing soil growth, comprising:
rendering a surface of BMF char hydrophilic; and
exposing the hydrophilic BMF char to microorganisms to produce an agent for enhancing soil growth.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising controlling a pH of the BMF char via pH adjustment agents.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising activating the BMF char.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising modifying a pH of the soil to accept the addition of the agent for enhancing soil growth.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein rendering a surface of the BMF char hydrophilic comprises removing adsorbed gas within char pores.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein rendering a surface of the BMF char hydrophilic comprises removing adsorbed hydrocarbons at a temperature above 700°.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein removing adsorbed gas within char pores comprises removing adsorbed gases by water infiltration, vacuum suction, ultrasound, or impact.

8. The method of claim 5 , wherein removing adsorbed gas within char pores comprises removing adsorbed gases by introducing a water solution containing soluble plant nutrients.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein microorganisms include members of at least one of fungi, bacteria or archaea.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein fungi include members of the phyla Glomeromycota.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the agent for enhancing soil growth contains glomalin structures.

12. A method for the production of an agent for enhancing soil growth, comprising:
subjecting biomass to a biofractioning process, wherein an auger reactor is employed to carry out the biofractioning process;
selectively collecting at least one volatile component as it is released from the biomass;
collecting a last remaining nonvolatile component comprising BMF char;
rendering a surface of the BMF char hydrophilic; and
exposing the BMF char to microorganisms to produce an agent for enhancing soil growth.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein subjecting the biomass to a biofractioning process comprises:
feeding the biomass into a feeder of the auger reactor;
conveying the biomass through the auger reactor; and
heating the biomass as the biomass is conveyed through the auger reactor.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein conveying the biomass comprises moving the biomass using a transfer screw powered by an external motor.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein rendering a surface of the BMF char hydrophilic comprises removing adsorbed gas within char pores.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein rendering a surface of the BMF char hydrophilic comprises removing adsorbed hydrocarbons at a temperature above 700° C.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein removing adsorbed gas within char pores comprises removing adsorbed gases by water infiltration, vacuum suction, ultrasound, or impact.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein removing adsorbed gas within char pores comprises removing adsorbed gases by introducing a water solution containing soluble plant nutrients.

19. The method of claim 12 , wherein microorganisms include members of at least one of fungi, bacteria or archaea.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein fungi include members of the phyla Glomeromycota.

21. The method of claim 12 , wherein the agent for enhancing soil growth contains glomalin structures.

Assignees

• Cool Planet Energy Systems Inc

Inventors

• Cheiky Michael C
• Sills Ronald A

Classifications

• C05G3/80

  Soil conditioners · CPC title

• C10J2300/094

  Char · CPC title

• C09K17/04

  applied in a physical form other than a solution or a grout, e.g. as granules or gases · CPC title

• C10G2400/06

  Gasoil · CPC title

• C10B53/02

  of cellulose-containing material (production of pyroligneous acid C10C5/00) · CPC title