Flash Carbonization™
From dKosopedia
Flash Carbonization™, is a new process discovered by research at the University of Hawaii that quickly and efficiently produces charcoal from biomass.
According to the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute website,This process involves the ignition of a flash fire at elevated pressure in a packed bed of biomass. Because of the elevated pressure, the fire quickly spreads through the bed, triggering the transformation of biomass to biocarbon. Fixed-carbon yields can attain the thermochemical equilibrium limit after reaction times of 20 to 30 minutes. Feedstocks have included woods (e.g., leucaena, eucalyptus, and oak), agricultural byproducts (e.g., macshells, corncobs, and pineapple chop), wet green wastes (e.g., wood sawdust and Christmas tree chips), various invasive species (e.g., strawberry guava), and synthetic materials (e.g., shredded automobile tires). In the case of corncobs, the fixed-carbon yield attained the theoretical limit, and the reaction was complete after 20 minutes. [1]
External Links
- Biocarbons Scaleup Tests Successful Hawaii Natural Energy Institute, University of Hawaii.
- Haug, Kawehi. UH shows money does grow on trees Processing coal from plant waste could net $100,000 per year Honolulu Star-Bulletin, July 21, 2004.
- Carbon in the Rough -- Hydrogen fuel cells are in the spotlight, but is there a dark horse in the race? Kaunana, August 2006.
- Altonn, Helen. UH creates ‘high-tech’ charcoal -- Flash carbonization turns green waste into fuel and fertilizer Honolulu Star-Bulletin, December 17, 2007.
- Altonn, Helen. Oahu factory takes Antal’s idea to market Honolulu Star-Bulletin, December 17, 2007.
