NSERC Strategic Network for Canadian Bio-Carbon Research and Applications Bio-C Net OVERVIEW Site Visit (May 1, 2012) “Catalyzing Canada’s Bioeconomy and Environmental Sustainability Through Bio- Carbon”
Background: What we know – The world population is exponentially increasing – especially in developing countries – Peak oil has been reached (or about) – Food prices are growing – Fertilizer prices are increasing – Agricultural soils are losing their organic carbon and selected minerals – Biofuels: Food vs. Fuel controversy – Climate is changing – Moisture retention is an issue
Background: We are in Search for Truly Sustainable Energy and Products • Increasing interest in biomass conversion (agricultural and forestry biomass, organic wastes, wastewater sludges,... ) into energy and products through thermal cracking (torrefaction, pyrolysis, gasification, combustion) • Past: combustion -> ash co-product oxygen starved combustion -> charcoal • Current: bio-oil from pyrolysis -> char co-product syngas from gasification -> char co-product • Future: all of the above BUT ALSO valorization of solid co-products!
The VISION: • ( Bio-C Net ) will bring together 14 distinguished academic researchers from 9 Universities across Canada to work with 37+ collaborating partners from government organizations and industry and with other academic collaborators. • The team will develop a solid scientific basis for the innovative, sustainable and standardized production, application and valorization of bio-carbon to be utilized for: – soil amendment ( bio-char ), – energy production ( bio-coal ), – metallurgical applications ( bio-coke ), – carbon sequestration ( CS ), – carbon-based materials for numerous high-value products and applications ( catalysts, adsorbents, carbon nanotubes, construction materials, fibers ….)
Great focus on agricultural applications has led to claims:
Increasing Research Worldwide • International Biochar Initiative • New Zealand Biochar Research Centre • UK Biochar Research Centre • Israel Biochar Researchers Network • Australia and New Zealand Biochar Researchers Network • .......... focus on agricultural applications!!
BUT: • Overall scientific knowledge on potential value of biochar is still VERY LIMITED and claims are not fully justified • Key chemical and physical properties of biochar are greatly affected by: – Feedstock – Process conditions (mainly temperature, residence time, heating rate and feedstock preparation). • No accepted correlation linking properties to performance and no standardization • Production processes lack optimization (operability and economics)
Robert Brown, 2009
In addition to agricultural applications , biochar has potentially many other valuable uses!
Deliverables • A solid scientific and technological basis for standardized and optimized processes – from feedstock selection and processing to bio- carbon upgrading – for the economical and practical production and utilization of bio- Carbon • A valuable resource for our industry partners • New and innovative knowledge and solutions • Education and training of > 100 HQP
HOW? Academic PIs and collaborators National and Industry and International Government External Partners Collaborators
NETWORKING: >12 Academic 14 Academic Pis Collaborators 1 External Liaison Consultant 9 Universities >37 Industrial/Government Partners 1 Network Manager Robert Helleur and collaborators Shahab Sokhansanj, Naoko Ellis and collaborators Jamal Chaouki and Ajay Dalai, Lope collaborators Tabil and John Wen and Franco Berruti, Donald Smith , Darko Matovic collaborators collaborators Cedric Briens, Joann Whalen and and collaborators Charles Xu and collaborators Amar Mohanty collaborators and collaborators
Theme 1: Feedstock Development Theme 2: Technology Development Feedstock Production Resource Assessment Farming- Theme 3: Product Development (1.1) (1.1) Producers Theme 4: Characterization & Industry Standardization Logistics Modelling Harvest & Collection (1.2) (1.3) Densification (1.2) Pre- Testing, Standardization, Relationships between Feedstock, Processing Industry Preservation and Storage (1.2) Fast Physical, Compositional, Functional Analyses Processing, Performance and Utilization Transportation (1.3) (4.1, 4.2, 4.3, and 4.4) Fluid Bed Technologies (2.1) Processing Mech. Mixed Technologies (2.1) Industry Rotating Drum Technologies (2.1) Combustion Systems (2.2) Microwave Systems (2.3) Cyclonic Technologies (2.4) Modelling & Optimization (all) HIGH VALUE BIO-CARBON PRODUCTS Bio-Carbon Bio-C for Bio-Carbon Bio-C Activated Bio-Char Bio-Coal Materials Catalysts Adsorbents Bio-Cement (3.1) (3.5) (3.2) (3.6) (3.3) (3.4) Markets and Consumers
INTERCONNECTED PROJECTS: • 18 projects • Network of 14 academic co-applicants from 9 Universities coast-to-coast: – Engineers – Chemists – Biochemists – Plant Scientists – Material Scientists – Soil Ecologists • 31+ graduate students (15 Masters and 16 PhD) • 5+ Postdoctoral Fellows/year • 100+ undergraduate summer students • Other multidisciplinary academic collaborators • Multidisciplinary partners from government labs • Industry partners
FEEDSTOCK DEVELOPMENT: • Biomass identification, production and pre-processing (size reduction, drying, blending, densification and storage). • Evaluation of the characteristics of different sources of biomass from forestry and agriculture, municipal solid wastes, and industrial wastes. • Reclamation of marginal or unproductive lands using bio- carbon products and their subsequent utilization in production. • Handling, storage and transportation of bio-carbon products. • Development of logistical models to ensure quantity, quality, and cost competitiveness of feedstock
PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGIES DEVELOPMENT: • Bio-carbon production strategies and technologies from the variety of selected biomass feedstocks. • Partnership with emerging Canadian technologies: lab simulations as well as use of industrial units to optimize economy, quality and consistency in products, in synergy with other valuable co-products (bio-oil, syngas, heat and power).
UTILIZATION AND PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT: • Bio-carbon upgrading and utilization with applications in: – agriculture, – energy, – metallurgy, – catalysis, – adsorption (activated bio-carbon), – and advanced materials (nanotubes, fibers, composites and bio-cement). • Identification of new needs and applications.
CHARACTERIZATION & STANDARDIZATION: • Development of analytical and testing techniques. • Analysis and correlation of all data gathered in all projects. • Standardization for bio-carbon, linking feedstocks, production and utilization, to effectively guide the users to meet grade, quality and performance criteria in its various applications, well beyond bio-char. • Ultimately: peer-reviewed, internationally accepted standards for the characterization of bio-carbon for specific applications.
STRATEGIC: • Increase R&D and training in targeted area that could strongly enhance Canada’s economy, society and environment • Area: Natural Resources and Energy • Economically synergistic co-production of bio- energy and bio-carbon products • Enhancement of marginal lands • Reduction of carbon footprint • High value products from Canadian resources and renewable residues • Added value to Canadian technologies
BUDGET: • Contribution of 37 partners: – $ 1.76 M cash – $ 3.68 M in-kind • Amount requested from NSERC: – $ 5 M • Additional resources: – NSERC IPS – MITACS – Connect Canada – Additional partners
Bio-C Net
NSERC Strategic Network for Canadian Bio-Carbon Research and Applications Bio-C Net MANAGEMENT & TRAINING “Catalyzing Canada’s Bioeconomy and Environmental Sustainability Through Bio- Carbon”
The Leadership Team: • Applicant and Scientific Director: – Franco Berruti – (Western U) • 4 Theme Leaders: – Shahab Sokhansanj (UBC) – Feedstock – Jamal Chaouki (Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal) – Production – Ajay Dalai (U. of Saskatchewan) – Utilization and Products – Darko Matovic (Queen’s U.) – Characterization & Standardization • Network Manager: – Chantal Gloor (Western University) • Partnerships Liaison Coordinator: – TBA • External Liaison Coordinator: – Lloyd Helferty (Bio-Char Consulting)
Administrative structure
TRAINING: 31+ graduate students (15 Masters and 16 PhD) 5+ Postdoctoral Fellows/year 100+ undergraduate summer students • Courses with enrichments • HQP Sub-Committee of Scientific Committee • Student exchanges among Universities • Student/PDF activities and networking • Interactions with industry partners • Industry Internships • Website pages for students • CREATE application • Future opportunities
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