Method and apparatus for depositing agents upon and within bio-char

• Main Author: SCHARF GERALD C
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 12.06.2012
• Subjects: APPLYING LIQUIDS OR OTHER FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL; CHEMISTRY; FERTILISERS; FERTILISERS CHARACTERISED BY THEIR FORM; FERTILISERS PRODUCING CARBON DIOXIDE; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; INORGANIC FERTILISERS NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C05B, C05C; LAYERED PRODUCTS; LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT ORNON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM; MANUFACTURE THEREOF; METALLURGY; MIXTURES OF FERTILISERS COVERED INDIVIDUALLY BY DIFFERENTSUBCLASSES OF CLASS C05; MIXTURES OF ONE OR MORE FERTILISERS WITH MATERIALS NOT HAVINGA SPECIFIC FERTILISING ACTIVITY, e.g. PESTICIDES,SOIL-CONDITIONERS, WETTING AGENTS; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHOSPHATIC FERTILISERS; PROCESSES FOR APPLYING LIQUIDS OR OTHER FLUENT MATERIALS TOSURFACES, IN GENERAL; REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGYGENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION; SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ARTCOLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINSTCLIMATE CHANGE; TRANSPORTING

Methods and apparatuses for depositing agents relatively deep within pores of bio-char. Bio-char is first produced in an airtight oven by heating biomass feedstock. The bio-char is then cooled and steam is diffused into the pores of the bio-char. The steam-laden bio-char is immersed in a liquid bath containing soluble agents that are to be deposited in the pores of the bio-char. The liquid bath cools the char to below the condensation temperature of the steam, whereupon the condensing steam generates a partial vacuum within the pores, drawing the liquid into the pores. The bio-char is then removed from the liquid bath and dried so that the liquid within the pores evaporates, leaving behind the soluble agent. Accordingly, the invention yields bio-char that has soluble agent embedded relatively deep within its pores.