Enhanced biochar

US10301228B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Cool Planet Energy System, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Ranko Panayatov Bontchev · Monrovia, US
• Han Suk Kim · Thousand Oaks, US
• Richard W. Wilson · San Diego, US
• Richard Wilson Belcher · Oxnard, US
• Cameron Cheyne · Simi Valley, US
• Leo E. Manzer · Wilmington, US
• Mark L. Jarand · Rotorua, NZ
• Haijun Wan · Camarillo, US
• Rajashekharam Malyala · Camarillo, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 24, 2017
• Grant date: May 28, 2019
• Expiry date: Oct 24, 2037

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S71/903
• WIPO field: Basic materials chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Biochar is provided that is treated to have certain chemical and physical properties found to have the highest impact on plant growth and/or soil health. In particular, the following physical and/or chemical properties, among others, of a biochar have been identified as critical properties to control for in the selection of biomass feedstock, pyrolysis conditions, and/or enhancing treatment to increase biochar performance: (i) bulk density (ii) impregnation capacity; (iii) particle size distribution; (iv) solid particle density; (v) surface area; (vi) porosity; (vii) total porosity; (viii) ratio of macroporosity to total porosity (ix) content of residual organic compounds; (x) content of volatile organic compounds; (xii) ash content; (xiii) water holding capacity; (xiv) water retention capabilities; (xv) levels of dioxins and other potentially hazardous byproducts of pyrolysis; and (xvi) pH. Treatment can modify and preferably increase hydrophilicity/decrease hydrophobicity, remove dioxins from the raw biochar, modify electrical conductivity and/or surface charge, modify cation exchange capacity and modify anion exchange capacity, among other things.