Dairy Manure Biochar as a Phosphorus Fertilizer...Manure-based biochar are more nutrient-rich and have alkaline pH. Greater ash content leads to greater biochar recovery. 2/19/2013

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Keri Cantrell, Patrick Hunt, Jarrod Miller, and Jeff Novak USDA-ARS Coastal Plains Soil, Water, and Plant Research Center Florence, SC 29501 February 26th, 2013

Cantrell, Midwest Manure Summit 2013, Green Bay, WI, Feb. 26-27, 2013 Cantrell, Midwest Manure Summit 2013, Green Bay, WI, Feb. 26-27, 2013

Manure Management Introduction Thermochemical Technologies Introduction

and Advantages

Green farming scheme

Pyrolysis techniques to produce biochar

Effectiveness of Biochar as a P-source

Ryegrass

Cotton

Conclusions


0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

106 pigs or

103 farms

1997 2004

Pigs

Farms

NC Hogs and Pigs, NASS-USDA

1,537,000 TONS dry manure

Decrease in number of farms with increase in livestock population

Limited Land Availability via Traditional Manure Management Practice

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Decrease in number of farms with increase in size

Limited Land Availability via Traditional Manure Management Practice Storage

Land Application

Relatively low capital and O&M costs


Surplus nutrients in manure from CAFOs – greater than crop nutrient demand

Transporting manure to remote crop fields

Lagoon sludge Potential environmental risk

H2S, NH3, and CH4 from storages

Odors

Potential contamination of ground and surface waters

Energy not utilized


0 20 40 60 80 100 120

Million dry tons per year

Crop

Residues

Grains to

biofuels

Manures

MSW, etc

DOE & USDA (2005) The Billion Ton Study

Sustainable biomass feedstock from US agricultural lands

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Reduce CAFO environmental impact Remove large amounts of organic waste Harness inherent energy to generate

Value-added products

Energy-dense, alternative fuels

Crop and soil fertility amendments

Cantrell, Midwest Manure Summit 2013, Green Bay, WI, Feb. 26-27, 2013


Biomass Feedstock

Biological Conversion

Thermochemical Conversion

Heat/Power Alcohols Diesels

Methane

REFERENCE: Cantrell et al. 2008. Livestock waste-to-bioenergy generation opportunities. Biores. Technol. 99:7941.

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Manure

P-Extraction Thermochemical Conversion

Solids Liquid

Crop Residue

Biochar P-Fertilizer

Carbon Credit Income

N-removal

Treated Water

Feedstock Conditioning

Solid-Liquid Separation

Cash Crop Income REFERENCE: Cantrell et al. 2012. Green

farming systems for the SE USA using manure-

to-energy conversion platforms. J. Renew. Sustain. Energ. DOI: 10.1063/1.3663846.


High temperature chemical reforming

Organic bonds broken

Reformed into synthesis gas and hydrocarbon fuels

Residual of inorganic minerals (ash) and more stable (fixed) carbon ▪ Char or biochar


Requires Smaller Footprint

Compact design with shorter processing time

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Requires Smaller Footprint

Reduces Disposal Requirements

Mass consumer of feedstock

More animals per land unit


Requires Smaller Footprint Reduces Disposal Requirements Multiplicity of End Products & Applications Heat & power generation

Chemical feedstocks

Transportation fuels

Industrial applications

Future carbon trading

Soil improvement


Requires Smaller Footprint Reduces Disposal Requirements Multiplicity of End Products and

Applications Including Energy Provides Socio-Environmental Benefits

Fresh/clean air

Potable water

Pathogen, pharmaceutical, and nuisance gas elimination

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Direct Liquefaction

Gasification Dry Gasification Wet Gasification

Pyrolysis Fast Pyrolysis Slow Pyrolysis Hydrocarbonization


Direct Liquefaction

Gasification Dry Gasification Wet Gasification

Pyrolysis Fast Pyrolysis Slow Pyrolysis Hydrocarbonization

Bio-oil

Synthesis Gas H2, CO CH4

Bio-oil & Char 75% bio-oil 35-50% char Up 70% char


Conversion of organic material with very little oxygen

35%

30%

35%

Biomass:

Pyrolysis

Syngas

Char (Biochar),

Ash

Bio-oil

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Pyrolysis

Syngas

Char (Biochar),

Ash

Bio-oil

Combustible hydrocarbons , CO2, and H2.

Process heat/drying


Acidic mix of organic and inorganic hydrated compounds

Refining required for potential fuel use

Pyrolysis

Syngas

Char (Biochar),

Ash

Bio-oil


Inorganic elements More aromatic (stable carbon)

structures Functional groups based on parent

material

Pyrolysis

Syngas

Char (Biochar),

Ash

Bio-oil

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Carbon Sequestration

Bioenergy Feedstock

Soil Amendment

Activated Carbon

Biochar


Fertilizer Ratio N P K pH

Switchgrass (250°C) 0.4 0.1 0.5 5.4

(500°C) 1 0.2 1 8.0

Peanut Hull (400°C) 3 0.3 2 7.9

(500°C) 3 0.3 2 8.6

Pecan Shell (350°C) 0.3 0.03 0.2 5.9

(700°C) 0.5 0.05 0.5 7.2

Plant-based biochars have low nutrient values and acidic to slightly alkaline pH values. Due to high carbon content, slow pyrolysis yields 30-50% (temperature dependent).

REFERENCE: Novak et al. 2009. Characterization of designer biochar produced at different temperatures and their effects on a loamy sand. Ann. Environ. Sci. 3:195.


Fertilizer Ratio N P K pH

Switchgrass (250°C) 0.4 0.1 0.5 5.4

(500°C) 1 0.2 1 8.0

Peanut Hull (400°C) 3 0.3 2 7.9

(500°C) 3 0.3 2 8.6

Pecan Shell (350°C) 0.3 0.03 0.2 5.9

(700°C) 0.5 0.05 0.5 7.2

Poultry Litter (350°C) 5 3 6 8.7

(700°C) 3 4 9 10.3

Manure-based biochar are more nutrient-rich and have alkaline pH. Greater ash content leads to greater biochar recovery.

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Biochar return affected by: Temperature

▪ Temp Mass

Initial ash content ▪ Ash Mass

Dairy Manure Modest returns ranging

35-55 % of dry feedstock

Low end of ash content

REFERENCE: Cantrell et al. 2012. Impact of pyrolysis temperature and manure source on physicochemical

characteristics of biochar. Biores. Technol. 107:419.


Moderate energy values

Coal products > 8000 BTU/lb

Pyrolysis generally improves energy content

Dairy manure

Raw material has high volatile solid content with low energy values

Coal Products


Fertilizer Ratio N

(%) P2O5

(%) K2O (%)

pH

Dairy (350°C) 3.0 2.3 1.6 9.2

(700°C) 1.7 3.9 2.6 9.9

Surface Feedlot (350°C) 3.4 2.6 3.6 9.1

(700°C) 1.7 4.0 5.5 10.3

Poultry Litter (350°C) 5.4 4.8 5.4 8.7

(700°C) 2.2 7.2 8.3 10.3

Turkey (350°C) 4.3 6.0 4.5 8.0

(700°C) 2.0 8.4 6.3 9.9

Swine (350°C) 3.7 8.9 2.0 8.2

(700°C) 2.6 13.5 2.9 8.2

Temp

N

P

K

pH

REFERENCE: Cantrell et al. 2012. Impact of pyrolysis temperature and manure source on

physicochemical characteristics of biochar. Biores. Technol. 107:419.

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Annual ryegrass Biochars applied at 100 lb P2O5 / ac Controls: 0, 100, 200, 300 P2O5 and

soil only (no fertilizers) Nitrogen rate of 100 lb N / ac Soil: Uchee sand Initial P2O5 of 47.6 lb ac-1

Limed (pH ~6.0) Cumulative biomass after 8-10

weeks REFERENCE: Hunt et al. 2013. Manure-derived

biochars for fertilization of ryegrass. Under Review.


Biochar treatments performed similar to/or greater than 100 P lb/ac .

Poultry litter treatment outperformed others.

Bovine response similar to turkey response.

REFERENCE: Hunt et al. 2013. Manure-derived biochars for fertilization of ryegrass. Under Review.

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Lower temp biochars similar to 100 P lb / ac.

Plant P with lower temperature biochars.

Dairy biochar treatment among the greatest P-accumulation. REFERENCE: Hunt et al. 2013. Manure-derived

biochars for fertilization of ryegrass. Under Review.


Cotton Biochars applied at 80 lb P2O5 / ac Controls: 0, 40, 80, 120 P2O5 and

soil only (no fertilizers) Nitrogen rate of 100 lb N / ac Soil: Uchee sand Initial P2O5 of 47.6 lb ac-1 Limed (pH ~6.0)

8 seeds, thinned to 3 plants Biomass harvested @ 60 d after

planting

REFERENCE: Hunt et al. 2012. Effectiveness of biochar as a Phosphorus fertilizer source for cotton. ASA, CSSA, and SSSA

International Annual Meeting, Oct. 21-24, 2012, Cincinnati, OH


Biochar treatments performed similar to or greater than 80 P2O5 lb/ac .

Dairy and swine

treatments approached the 120 P2O5 lb/ac.

REFERENCE: Hunt et al. 2012. Effectiveness of biochar as a Phosphorus fertilizer source for cotton. ASA, CSSA, and SSSA International Annual Meeting, Oct. 21-24, 2012, Cincinnati, OH

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Dairy, swine, and turkey treatments accumulated more P than similar fertilizer.

P-more plant available than fertilizer

REFERENCE: Hunt et al. 2012. Effectiveness of biochar as a Phosphorus fertilizer source for cotton. ASA, CSSA, and SSSA

International Annual Meeting, Oct. 21-24, 2012, Cincinnati, OH


Manure management practices can move toward: Harness inherent manure energy to generate value-added products.

Thermochemical conversion offers many advantages over traditional and biological disposal practices.

Slow pyrolysis one treatment for generation of a soil amendment- Biochar.


Manure-based biochars are rich in inorganic elements, particularly P Alternative fertilizer

Manure-based biochar P is readily available to plants

When applied at agronomic rates—it was not detrimental to plant growth

Dairy manure biochars treatments were similar to higher P2O5 application rates When applied at 80 lb/ac, response similar to 120 lb/ac

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Dairy Manure Biochar as a Phosphorus Fertilizer...Manure-based biochar are more nutrient-rich and have alkaline pH. Greater ash content leads to greater biochar recovery. 2/19/2013