Kon-Tiki & biochar production in Philippines

Paul Olivier in Vietnam - gasifier dome

Paul Olivier has shared some of his stove development work... great looking photos of his stoves...

​---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Paul Olivier
Date: 1 April 2017 at 20:09
Subject: nichrome wire mesh dome
To: Paul Olivier

I took a long time for the nichrome wire mesh to arrive from China.

And it took a long time for the shop to make the mold to make the dome.

The dome in operation with a pot (100 gasifier) looks like this:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/22013094/102%20Gasifier/Pictures/029.JPG

Here you see it without the pot:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/22013094/102%20Gasifier/Pictures/031.JPG
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/22013094/102%20Gasifier/Pictures/032.JPG
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/22013094/102%20Gasifier/Pictures/033.JPG

After a burn, there is no smell.

The pot does not blacken.

The dome does not change color after a burn.

Here you see the dome after 5 burns:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/22013094/102%20Gasifier/Pictures/030.JPG

It looks like it was never used.

Ordinary 304 stainless steel changes color after one burn.

Nichrome stays the same.

Nichrome is special.

Nichrome does not change shape and keeps its original form.

The wire diameter is 0.20 mm.
The wire openings are 0.64 mm.
The open area of the wire mesh is greater than 58%.

Tomorrow Truc Duong will do some more tests.

Thanks.

Paul Olivier

--

Paul A. Olivier PhD
26/5 Phu Dong Thien Vuong
Dalat
Vietnam

Louisiana telephone: 1-337-447-4124 (rings Vietnam)
Mobile: 090-694-1573 (in Vietnam)
Skype address: Xpolivier
http://www.epwt.net/

Climate change, developed world v. developing world and biochar

Climate change, developed world v. developing world and biochar [link to article]

Dr. D. Michael Shafer

Director, Warm Heart Foundation, A.Phrao, Chiang Mai

"Because we are among the world’s 1.2 billion rich people and not its 5.4 billion poor, it is easy to think about the climate crisis, solutions to the climate crisis and sustainability in terms of developed world actions and initiatives. Given the focus of diplomatic, media, policy, and scientific attention, this is entirely understandable. It is also entirely wrongheaded. If you ask, Where can we most easily improve environmental outcomes? Achieve sustainability? Reverse climate change? To say nothing of where can we alleviate the most suffering and promote the greatest good? The answers are all found in the developing world. Environmental action in the developing world by and for the 2.54 billion of the world’s poorest people, very small farmers, can do more right now and at less cost to advance our shared interest in global sustainability than anything else imaginable.

What is to be done? Train billions of small farmers in the developing world to turn their crop wastes into biochar instead of burning it. ..."

Conclusion

"The conclusions that follow from this extended argument should be encouraging for the developed world reader not attempting to commercialize biochar. Stated a boldly as possible: (1) Because the climate change calamity falls largely on the developing world, it must mobilize to solve the problem, not merely postpone it. (2) Unlike the developed world, where much depends on intergovernmental and even inter-nongovernmental organization coordination – a huge task – the remedy required in the developing world requires no coordination and little government action. (3) Developed world efforts to reverse climate change are nascent and decades from ramp up, the technology and project required to remove billions of tons of CO 2 from the atmosphere is ready and waiting in developing world. (4) The developed world winces at the cost of development assistance, but two critical details recommend the proposed program: it clearly serves the interest of the developed world and it will reduce future spending on such financial black hole programs as health and food aid. (5) Finally, because the proposed program works by creating incentives for the world’s poorest to help themselves, it is an investment in reducing climate change’s most salient political challenge: how to manage the hordes of hunger refugees who will storm the borders of the developed world?"

Composting with Biochar Training Workshop - Malaysia, 5-6 April

Following on from the success of the Thailand biochar workshop (see earlier post below) the organisers of new workshop in Malaysia have agreed to open this up for public participation. Less than 3 weeks away so act fast if you are interested...

Composting with Biochar Training Workshop - Batu Pahat, 5-6 April

Top Fruits Sdn Bhd are the leading durian production, processing and exporting company in Malaysia. They will be hosting a compost training workshop at their farm and processing facilities near Batu Pahat on the 5th and 6th of April.

The training will be a mix of theory and practice (mainly practice), based on underlying permaculture principles and will draw in new innovation around the inclusion of biochar into the compost system. The training will be led by Harbir Gill, a well know local permaculturist, garden innovator and expert in compost production. He will be assisted by Trevor Richards, long time Malaysian resident and local expert on all things related to biochar.

The target audience is small to medium scale commercial horticulture and orchards /plantations. Don’t believe the entrenched dogma that composting in the tropics is not practical or economic... carbon is the future for sustainable soils and agriculture.

Program (preliminary)

Day 1

Composting production and application principles

Field session: Compost evaluation

Field session: Build a 3-bin compost system

Plantation tour - identify / recover biomass sources

Day 2

Biochar introduction

Building 1st compost heap

Compost amendments

Compost monitoring and improvement

Cost: RM250 /day

Transport: Car sharing from KL anticipated

Accommodation: plenty of options in and around Batu Pahat

Needs: outdoor clothing, hat, sunscreen,

Morning and afternoon tea will be provided.

For queries and booking:

Trina Wong: trinawong@fruits-tech.com.my, 012-223 3615

Trevor: trevor@soilcarbon.org.nz, 012-659 1430

Kelpie's new Jro design for light weight biomass

"It uses two barrels, but I find it much easier to handle than a tall, wiggly stack. And it holds in heat better. The stack tends to send your heat shooting out the top. With this plenum burner design, you don't have to worry so much about controlling primary air because the draft is slower. The slits are kind of cute, but I don't think they are giving me the swirl I was after, so any shape of hole would probably work as well."

Thailand biochar workshop report

Warm Heart Biochar Workshop - Phrao, Northern Thailand

Here is a link to a short report on the workshop. Please get in touch if you are interested in organising biochar workshops in your area.

Foreground: TFOD trough for bamboo biochar production

More news on Philippines mine remediation

DENR issues guidelines providing livelihood for mining communities

"Lopez said the Biochar Program calls for the wise utilization of abundant agricultural waste materials into marketable products created by rural communities for green energy, soil enhancement, mine revegetation, and a host of environmental products and services, making it a remarkable climate-change mitigation technology with poverty alleviation through community enterprise.

Biochar is charred biomass strictly from agricultural waste like rice hull and straw, bagasse, pili shell, mango seed, coconut husk and shell and corn cobs, which are produced by high heating with very limited oxygen. Lopez clarified that cutting of trees to serve as raw materials for biochar is “strictly prohibited.”

IBI Webinar - Biochar Analytical Methods, 27Mar.

International Biochar Initiative – Educational Webinar Series

Biochar Analytical Methods

The soon to be released book “Biochar: A Guide to Analytical Methods” provides procedures and guidelines for biochar characterization as well as backgrounds for the various proposed analytical techniques and procedures.  Dr. Balwant Singh is one of the lead editors for this book and will highlight some of the most useful information from this book including the proper way to obtain biochar samples and a selection of analytical techniques.  He will address proximate & elemental analysis, as well as testing of pH, electrical conductivity, liming potential, and cation exchange capacity.  This webinar will be of interest to biochar producers, researchers, laboratories and more.  An interactive Q&A period will follow Dr. Singh’s presentation. Questions may be submitted before or during the event.

IBI members are eligible for a 20% discount on Biochar: A Guide to Analytical Methods.  IBI Members may use the Promo Code on the IBI Members Only page.

When?             Date: March 27^th, 2017              Time: 4:30 – 6:00 pm ET

Cost?               Free to IBI Members or $40 for non-members

Non-Member Registration >> 

IBI Members may register for free using the link which has been emailed to all current IBI Members or is available on the IBI Members Only page.

To renew or join IBI, please go to our Join page. If you have issues joining or renewing, please send an email to: bschorr@ttcorp.com. For other registration-related questions, please send an email to vmedici@ttcorp.com.

Registration includes access to the slides and a recording of the webinar.

Moderator: Kathleen Draper

Kathleen is a member of the IBI Board and Chair of IBI’s Information Hub. She is also the US Director of the Ithaka Institute for Carbon Intelligence. The Institute is an open source network focusing on beneficial carbon sequestration strategies which simultaneously provide economic development opportunities both in the developed and developing world. She is an editor and writer for The Biochar Journal, sponsored by the Ithaka Institute. Kathleen also works with various different universities and individuals on projects that are investigating the use of biochar in cement and other building and packaging products to develop products with lower embodied carbon which can be made from locally available organic waste. She has written extensively about various topics related to biochar and is a co-author of the book “Terra Preta: How the World’s Most Fertile Soil Can Help Reverse Climate Change and Reduce World Hunger”.

Presenter: Dr. Balwant Singh

Dr. Balwant Singh is a Professor of Soil Science in the Faculty of Science at the University of Sydney.  He is the current Chair of the Soil Mineralogy Commission of the International Union of Soil Sciences and a Councilor of the Association Internationale pour l’Etude des Argiles (AIPEA) and the Clay Mineral Society.  Dr. Singh is joint Editor-in-Chief of the journal Soil Research and an Associate Editor for three other journals.

For More Information

What questions do you have about biochar quality and use? Please send your questions by March 23^rd to webinars@biochar-international.org.

For more information or if you have any questions about registration please email Vera Medici at vmedici@ttcorp.com.

Want to become an IBI member?  Visit our membership page to help support IBI! 

International Biochar Initiative

www.biochar-international.org info@biochar-international.org

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The Great Change: Climate Ecoforestry

The Great Change: Climate Ecoforestry: "Want to leap the social barrier to cool living? Behold: a stargate."   In 2008 we asked Frank Michael a tough question. Frank...

Philippines Biochar Association in the news

"One alternative livelihood the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is looking at is for miners to take part in the rehabilitation of agricultural lands affected by mining activities through Biochar.
DENR Undersecretary Philip Camara said a lot of the mines that Secretary Gina Lopez ordered closed or suspended involved operations that removed from the ground around 10- to 20-meters- deep of subsoil.
Because of this, he said, the community is left with an environment that can hold very little water.
Biochar, along with other ingredients, can remedy this, he said.
"I’m talking about using 30 tons per hectare. We’d be able to provide a hospitable environment for plants and trees to regrow and to stabilize the area so that further erosion is controlled," he said.
Camara, who also serves as Philippine Biochar Association president, said he estimates that for every 200 hectares of full rehabilitation, a thousand jobs would be created.
But the real reason for rehabilitating the area, he said, is to repurpose it for a "green economy" which becomes "a sustainable, long-term, progressive virtuous cycle development in the area, providing a lot more jobs than what would have come from extracting the subsoil and shipping it."

Read More:  ANC   ANC Top   ANC Exclusives   Philip Camara   DENR   Biochar  

Michael waves the black flag via Eco-business.com

Can biochar make climate change a profitable business opportunity?

In a world frozen in a futile debate on climate change, can we break the ice with win-win, sustainable solutions like biochar? Michael Shafer from NGO Warm Heart Worldwide thinks we can.

Biochar production eliminates black carbon, virtually all greenhouse emissions, and can greatly reduce pesticide and fertiliser costs for farmers. Image: Simon Dooley, CC BY-NC 2.0

http://www.eco-business.com/opinion/can-biochar-make-climate-change-a-profitable-business-opportunity/

Compost Tea vs E.M. vs Biochar #3 - How to measure Growth Rate of Plants...

Scroll back for #1 & #2 in the series...

IBI Webinar#2: Biochar and composting

February 27, 2017 • 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm ET

The economic and environmental benefits of co-composting and blending biochar and compost have been proven not just in academic research but also by businesses in the composting indistry.  This webinar provides both a scientific and industry perspective of these benefits.  Attendees learn what feedstocks are best used composts versus biochars, what production parameters produce the best biochars for compost blending and co-composting, the impact of co-composting and blending on biochar properties, N losses, compost mineralization and greenhouse gas emissions.  They will also hear from an expert from the composting industry with several years of successful trials and market experience with mixing compost and biochar.  An interactive Q&A period will follow.

When?

Date: February 27, 2017
Time: 1:00 - 2:30 pm ET

REGISTERING FOR THE WEBINAR

IBI Members: FREE with code*
Non-Members: $40
Register here>>
*IBI Members can register for free using the discount code which has been emailed to all current IBI members.  If you have not received this discount code, you may renew your membership or join IBI here: http://www.biochar-international.org/join.  If you have any issues renewing your membership status, please send an email to: bschorr@ttcorp.com.  For other registration-related questions, please send an email to: vmedici@ttcorp.com.
Alternatively, non-IBI members may attend for a non-member rate of $40 or consider joining IBI to take advantage of member benefits including future webinars and book discounts.  Upon completion of this form and successful payment processing, you will receive a link to join the webinar on February 27.
Moderator:
Kathleen Draper
Kathleen is a member of the IBI Board and Chair of IBI's Information Hub.  She is also the US Director of the Ithaka Institute for Carbon Intelligence.  The Institute is an open source network focusing on beneficial carbon sequestration strategies which simultaneously provide economic development opportunities both in the developed and devloping world.  She is an editor and writer for The Biochar Journal, sponsored by the Ithaka Institute.  Kathleen also works with various different universities and individuals on projects that are investigating the use of biochar in cement and other building and packaging products with lower embodied carbon which can be made from locally available organic waste.  She has written extensively about various topics related to biochar and is a co-author of the book "Terra Preta: How the World's Most Fertile Soil Can Help Reverse Climate Change and Reduce World Hunger".
Presenter:
Dr. Miguel Angel Sanchez Monedero, Researcher, Spanish National Research Council
Dr. Sanchez Monedero has a BSc and PhD in Chemistry from the University of Murcia and MSc in Chemical Engineering from The University of Leeds (UK).  His research career has included: CEBAS-CSIC (Spain), The University of Udine (Italy) and The University of Leeds (UK).  Miguel's main research interests are: recycling of organic wastes through composting, C and N dynamics during composting and after soil application, environmental impact of the composting process (greenhouse gas emissions, bioaerosols), the impact of biochar on soil nutrient cycling and greenhouyse gas emissions and organic matter humification.

Presenter:
Jack Houck, Vice-President Environmental Services, Rexius
Jack Houck oversees all environmental and safety issues for Rexius, a company focused on recycling and processing organic waste and wood residual materials for the landscape, agricultural and environmental industries.  Jack is also responsible for all efforts in recycling and composting for the Rexius Company and is considered to be a leading expert on composting methods and strategies while working extensively on product improvement and development.

For More Information
What questions do you have about biochar quality and use?  Please send your questions by February 23rd to webinars@biochar-international.org.  For more information of if you have any questions about registration, please email Vera Medici at vmedici@ttcorp.com.
Want to become an IBI member?  Visit our membership page to help support IBI!

© 2017 International Biochar Initiative | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use

Philippines govt proposes biochar for mine rehabilitation

"ENVIRONMENT Secretary Gina Lopez said she was out to prove that "green economy" can provide more jobs than destructive mining even as she assured alternative livelihood opportunities to affected mine workers and their families."

"... She is also looking at the potential of biochar as a tool for mine rehabilitation. Biochar is a type of charcoal that is produced by burning only a small amount of oxygen. This enables the carbon to be absorbed by the plants and preventing it from accumulating in the atmosphere. Affected mine workers will also be tapped for reforestation activities under the Enhanced National Greening Program, as well as the government's planned expansion of bamboo and mangrove plantations to fight climate change and poverty. Under the SIAD approach, "mini economic zones" will be created in order to generate employment, livelihood and income-generating activities in communities where mining companies operate."(SDR/SunStar Philippines)

Read more: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2017/02/05/lopez-green-economy-creates-more-jobs-mining-524029#brand
Follow us: @sunstaronline on Twitter | SunStar Philippines on Facebook

Singapore Workshop Report

The following report is Co/ Prof. Ng Wei Cheng at NUS...

The 2nd Renewable Energy and Biochar workshop, organized by the CREATE E2S2 program, was successfully held at the CREATE Tower of the National University of Singapore (NUS) on 19 January 2017. The workshop featuring five distinguished academic speakers in the area of renewable energy and biochar (Prof Ruzhu Wang, Prof Yong Sik Ok, Prof Chi-Hwa Wang, Prof Yanjun Dai and Prof Tianshu Ge) attracted about 40 participants with quite a number of biochar industry players. The industry panel discussion session in the workshop has also served as a good platform to promote dialogue between researchers in Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) and industry for potential collaborative opportunities.
In the workshop, Prof Ok from the Korea Biochar Research Center (KBRC), Kangwon National University talked about the research trend in biochar in a presentation titled “SMART biochar technology? A shifting paradigm towards advanced materials and energy/environment research”. He shared how the initial research on using biochar for soil improvement and carbon dioxide sequestration, has expanded and found new applications in engineering, health care and life sciences. The increasing number of research publications over the past few years shows that the biochar topic is getting more popular. While biochar in general is accepted as being harmless to the environment, he cautioned that the source of the feedstock for the production of biochar may give rise to PAHs (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons) and should be tested for toxicity. Last but not least, he also showcased his biochar related research work in a diverse spectrum of applications, as well as his industry collaborative projects with some of the biggest companies in Korea.

Apart from biochar experts in the academia, the workshop has attracted a number of active biochar or charcoal manufacturers in Southeast Asia. For instance, Mr Bryan Lee, a charcoal manufacturer from Sepatang, Malaysia shared a little with us on his charcoal manufacturing facility and the fields in which his charcoal is being utilized in. Mr Balathandautham Tam from Moringa Village also shared his coconut plantation planning in Palembang, Indonesia that involves the setting up of coconut oil production and conversion of coconut shells to charcoal. Besides Indonesia, he also has some plans for plantation in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. 

More interestingly, big multi-national companies such as Sembcorp Industries Ltd, a leading energy, water, marine and urban development group, has also shown deep interest in biochar development in the region. Additionally, the workshop has also drawn the attention of an investment group that is interested in our integrated technology that handles both wet and dry waste, and yet capable of producing biochar. Last but not least, Mr Trevor Richards from the International Biochar Initiative (IBI) also shared a little about IBI and the upcoming plan of a 3-day practical biochar workshop in Thailand toward the end of February 2017, covering both production and applications.