We are very pleased to announce that we have received funding from Innovation Centre WA to conduct biochar emission testing on our pyrolysis process. The biochar emissions testing is very important in the commercialisation of our technology and will provide invaluable feedback going forward.
We are focusing the biochar emission testing on two industries where our technology could be utilised, poultry farms and waste water treatment. This funding will enable us to perform biochar emissions testing on sewage sludge and poultry litter and use this information as a preliminary investigation on the likely pollutants emitted from the plant and as an indication on plant performance.
Poultry Farm Biochar
Poultry farms produce significant amounts of poultry litter (a mixture of manure and bedding material). Currently, birds are grown in sheds on 7 week cycles. At the end of each cycle, the litter is removed and stockpiled until there is sufficient quantity to transport away where it is spread on agricultural land as a fertiliser. This stockpiling attracts flies, emits odors and releases greenhouse gases. There are also increasing food safety and environmental concerns about its application on agricultural land in un-modified forms. There are currently no alternatives to this treatment.
Bio-solids Biochar
The waste water treatment industry produces an enormous quantity of sewerage sludge (bio-solids). Sewerage sludge contains heavy metals, is classified as a hazardous waste and must be disposed of carefully, generally at significant cost. Our technology is ideally suited to process sewerage sludge n site to produce a non-hazardous biochar.
The information gained from the biochar emission testing will enable us to manage further development of the kiln in terms stack emissions before conducting a comprehensive full scope of testing according to the Waste Incineration Directive (WID) under the Environmental Protection Act. Comprehensive testing will be critical when we begin to build our first project.
The biochar emission testing will include:
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The preliminary testing (if positive), will enable us to show various stakeholder (such as investors) that our prototype meets Australian Emission Standards. And, if negative, give us the information we will need to make changes to the kiln in order to alleviate the problem.