40 Cubic Yards of ARTi Biochar Ready to Depart
In April of 2021 ARTi had the chance to sell and ship 40 cubic yards of biochar. 40 cubic yards weighed at approximately 16k lb of biochar which would represent (if the conversion is x3) 48,000 lb of CO₂ or 20 Metric tons of CO₂ sequestered . With 1 gallon of biochar able to sequester 6 lbs of CO₂ this shipment represents 48,473.76 lbs (3.84 metric tonnes) of CO₂ capture!
The feedstock for the biochar ARTi produced for the client was from hulls and wood chips
The shipment was for a client producing organic compost. Biochar addition to organic compost is a great fit. The biomass application was to improve the compost performance by promoting the microbial growth in the compost. Improved microbial growth is something biochar does very well. The end mixture being 5% biochar to compost. The client provides compost to farmers, including row crop farmers all across the midwest US, from Wisconsin to Colorado. The stated application of compost/biochar will reach a maximum of 2 tons per acre. These parameters are determined by soil analysis and recommendations based on the particular crop. For this shipment, the biochar to be added to the organic compost will be for cash crops such as corn or soya. Forward-looking farmers are increasingly interested in biochar and organic compost combinations.
Image of ARTi Hardwood derived Biochar generated by scanning electron microscopy
As shown in the photo, biochar has a porous structure. This is one of its key beneficial properties. As biochar is biomass that has been burned under oxygen free or very low oxygen conditions (pyrolysis) the biochar biomass retains the normal structure of a living plant. In pyrolyzed form, the normal structure of a living plant, now no longer living is porous. These pores or holes are perfect for microbes to thrive as they provide protection, moisture and aid in the adsorption of nutrients. The micro pores also allow for space for air. The moisture is absorbed in the micro pores but there is plenty of space left for air pockets. When all added together, adding biochar to your soil is like adding luxury housing for beneficial microbes and excellent infrastructure for water and air presence.
The feedstock for the biochar ARTi produced for the client was from hulls and wood chips over a two-week processing period. The feedstock was produced at a pyrolysis temperature of 500 Celsius. The hull and wood chip feedstock is reclaimed biomass that would otherwise go unused. Over the years the biomass would decompose and the carbon would have been turned to CO₂ and returned back into the atmosphere. Instead we lock it in the biochar where it stays for hundreds of years.
ARTi team members load the Biochar 2 cubic yard supersacks.
Second image of ARTi Hardwood derived Biochar generated by scanning electron microscopy
ARTi Biochar 40 cubic yard shipment about ready to go!
