NSERC Strategic Network for Canadian Bio-Carbon Research and Applications. Bio-C Net OVERVIEW

Transcription

1 NSERC Strategic Network for Canadian Bio-Carbon Research and Applications Bio-C Net OVERVIEW Site Visit (May 1, 2012) Catalyzing Canada s Bioeconomy and Environmental Sustainability Through Bio-Carbon

2 Background: What we know The world population is exponentially increasing especially in developing countries Peak oil has been reached (or about) Food prices are growing Fertilizer prices are increasing Agricultural soils are losing their organic carbon and selected minerals Biofuels: Food vs. Fuel controversy Climate is changing Moisture retention is an issue

3 Background: We are in Search for Truly Sustainable Energy and Products Increasing interest in biomass conversion (agricultural and forestry biomass, organic wastes, wastewater sludges,... ) into energy and products through thermal cracking (torrefaction, pyrolysis, gasification, combustion) Past: Current: Future: combustion -> ash co-product oxygen starved combustion -> charcoal bio-oil from pyrolysis -> char co-product syngas from gasification -> char co-product all of the above BUT ALSO valorization of solid co-products!

4 The VISION: (Bio-C Net) will bring together 14 distinguished academic researchers from 9 Universities across Canada to work with 37+ collaborating partners from government organizations and industry and with other academic collaborators. The team will develop a solid scientific basis for the innovative, sustainable and standardized production, application and valorization of bio-carbon to be utilized for: soil amendment (bio-char), energy production (bio-coal), metallurgical applications (bio-coke), carbon sequestration (CS), carbon-based materials for numerous high-value products and applications (catalysts, adsorbents, carbon nanotubes, construction materials, fibers.)

5 Great focus on agricultural applications has led to claims:

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7 Increasing Research Worldwide International Biochar Initiative New Zealand Biochar Research Centre UK Biochar Research Centre Israel Biochar Researchers Network Australia and New Zealand Biochar Researchers Network... focus on agricultural applications!!

8 BUT: Overall scientific knowledge on potential value of biochar is still VERY LIMITED and claims are not fully justified Key chemical and physical properties of biochar are greatly affected by: Feedstock Process conditions (mainly temperature, residence time, heating rate and feedstock preparation). No accepted correlation linking properties to performance and no standardization Production processes lack optimization (operability and economics)

9 Robert Brown, 2009

10 In addition to agricultural applications, biochar has potentially many other valuable uses!

11 Deliverables A solid scientific and technological basis for standardized and optimized processes from feedstock selection and processing to biocarbon upgrading for the economical and practical production and utilization of bio- Carbon A valuable resource for our industry partners New and innovative knowledge and solutions Education and training of > 100 HQP

12 HOW? Academic PIs and collaborators Industry and Government Partners National and International External Collaborators

13 NETWORKING: 14 Academic Pis >12 Academic 1 External Liaison Collaborators Consultant 9 Universities 1 Network Manager >37 Industrial/Government Partners Robert Helleur and collaborators Shahab Sokhansanj, Naoko Ellis and collaborators Ajay Dalai, Lope Tabil and collaborators Franco Berruti, Cedric Briens, Charles Xu and collaborators John Wen and collaborators Darko Matovic and collaborators Amar Mohanty and collaborators Jamal Chaouki and collaborators Donald Smith, Joann Whalen and collaborators

14 Fast Physical, Compositional, Functional Analyses Testing, Standardization, Relationships between Feedstock, Processing, Performance and Utilization (4.1, 4.2, 4.3, and 4.4) Logistics Modelling (1.3) Theme 1: Feedstock Development Farming- Producers Industry Feedstock Production (1.1) Resource Assessment (1.1) Theme 2: Technology Development Theme 3: Product Development Theme 4: Characterization & Standardization Harvest & Collection (1.2) Pre- Processing Industry Densification (1.2) Preservation and Storage (1.2) Transportation (1.3) Processing Industry Fluid Bed Technologies (2.1) Mech. Mixed Technologies (2.1) Rotating Drum Technologies (2.1) Combustion Systems (2.2) Microwave Systems (2.3) Cyclonic Technologies (2.4) Modelling & Optimization (all) HIGH VALUE BIO-CARBON PRODUCTS Bio-Char (3.1) Bio-Carbon Materials (3.2) Bio-Carbon Catalysts (3.3) Bio-C Activated Adsorbents (3.4) Bio-Coal (3.5) Bio-C for Bio-Cement (3.6) Markets and Consumers

15 INTERCONNECTED PROJECTS: 18 projects Network of 14 academic co-applicants from 9 Universities coast-to-coast: Engineers Chemists Biochemists Plant Scientists Material Scientists Soil Ecologists 31+ graduate students (15 Masters and 16 PhD) 5+ Postdoctoral Fellows/year 100+ undergraduate summer students Other multidisciplinary academic collaborators Multidisciplinary partners from government labs Industry partners

16 FEEDSTOCK DEVELOPMENT: Biomass identification, production and pre-processing (size reduction, drying, blending, densification and storage). Evaluation of the characteristics of different sources of biomass from forestry and agriculture, municipal solid wastes, and industrial wastes. Reclamation of marginal or unproductive lands using biocarbon products and their subsequent utilization in production. Handling, storage and transportation of bio-carbon products. Development of logistical models to ensure quantity, quality, and cost competitiveness of feedstock

17 PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGIES DEVELOPMENT: Bio-carbon production strategies and technologies from the variety of selected biomass feedstocks. Partnership with emerging Canadian technologies: lab simulations as well as use of industrial units to optimize economy, quality and consistency in products, in synergy with other valuable co-products (bio-oil, syngas, heat and power).

18 UTILIZATION AND PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT: Bio-carbon upgrading and utilization with applications in: agriculture, energy, metallurgy, catalysis, adsorption (activated bio-carbon), and advanced materials (nanotubes, fibers, composites and bio-cement). Identification of new needs and applications.

19 CHARACTERIZATION & STANDARDIZATION: Development of analytical and testing techniques. Analysis and correlation of all data gathered in all projects. Standardization for bio-carbon, linking feedstocks, production and utilization, to effectively guide the users to meet grade, quality and performance criteria in its various applications, well beyond bio-char. Ultimately: peer-reviewed, internationally accepted standards for the characterization of bio-carbon for specific applications.

20 STRATEGIC: Increase R&D and training in targeted area that could strongly enhance Canada s economy, society and environment Area: Natural Resources and Energy Economically synergistic co-production of bioenergy and bio-carbon products Enhancement of marginal lands Reduction of carbon footprint High value products from Canadian resources and renewable residues Added value to Canadian technologies

21 BUDGET: Contribution of 37 partners: $ 1.76 M cash $ 3.68 M in-kind Amount requested from NSERC: $ 5 M Additional resources: NSERC IPS MITACS Connect Canada Additional partners

22 Bio-C Net

23 NSERC Strategic Network for Canadian Bio-Carbon Research and Applications Bio-C Net MANAGEMENT & TRAINING Catalyzing Canada s Bioeconomy and Environmental Sustainability Through Bio-Carbon

24 The Leadership Team: Applicant and Scientific Director: Franco Berruti (Western U) 4 Theme Leaders: Shahab Sokhansanj (UBC) Feedstock Jamal Chaouki (Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal) Production Ajay Dalai (U. of Saskatchewan) Utilization and Products Darko Matovic (Queen s U.) Characterization & Standardization Network Manager: Chantal Gloor (Western University) Partnerships Liaison Coordinator: TBA External Liaison Coordinator: Lloyd Helferty (Bio-Char Consulting)

25 Administrative structure

26 TRAINING: 31+ graduate students (15 Masters and 16 PhD) 5+ Postdoctoral Fellows/year 100+ undergraduate summer students Courses with enrichments HQP Sub-Committee of Scientific Committee Student exchanges among Universities Student/PDF activities and networking Interactions with industry partners Industry Internships Website pages for students CREATE application Future opportunities