Farms.com Home   News

New Process Quickly Transforms Livestock Manure Into Biochar

A technology has been developed to quickly convert livestock manure, a significant issue in animal farming, into valuable "black gold" rich in carbon within a day.

Dr. Yoo Ji-ho and his research team from the Clean Air Research Laboratory of the Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER) have developed a process that immediately converts livestock manure into biochar (biomass and charcoal) at livestock farms. Using the process developed by the research team, it is possible to convert 10 tons of livestock manure into biochar in a single day.

As of 2022, the amount of livestock manure produced was about 50 million tons, of which 87% is used as compost and liquid fertilizer after being fermented over a long period. However, during this long treatment process, which can last more than 60 days,  (N2O), a  300 times stronger than carbon dioxide, is emitted.

Additionally, ammonia (NH3), which causes ultrafine dust and odors, is also released, accounting for 70% of the  nationwide. This has led to persistent odor complaints, becoming a chronic problem for livestock farmers.

Biochar is gaining attention as an alternative solution to overcome these issues. Converting livestock manure into biochar not only completely prevents the emission of nitrous oxide and ammonia but also absorbs carbon from the air and can sequester it, making it a viable means to achieve carbon neutrality in the livestock sector.

Consequently, the government has designated biochar as a core technology area for carbon neutrality in the livestock sector and plans to expand the use of biochar and improve manure management in livestock farms through the "Livestock Sector 2030 Greenhouse Gas Reduction and Green Growth Strategy"

The core of the Manure To Biochar (MTB) process developed by the research team is a dehydration and drying technology that reduces the  in livestock manure, which is over 80%, to less than 20%.

The research team successfully designed and built an integrated system that combines the drying process owned by the KIER, the dehydration process from the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM), the pretreatment process from DULI TECH Co., Ltd., and the pyrolysis technology from YOUGI IND Co., Ltd. to achieve optimal performance. Using this, the overall energy consumption can be significantly reduced to less than one-tenth compared to the conventional rotary kiln method.

The process begins with a screw-type solid-liquid separator developed by the KIMM. This separator reduces the moisture content in livestock manure, which is over 80%, to less than 60%. The energy used in this step is minimized to 1% of that used in conventional heat-based processes like the rotary kiln method (horizontal, cylindrical). The separated manure chunks are then finely crushed to less than 1 cm in size by a three-stage blade crusher developed by DULI TECH Co., Ltd.

Click here to see more...

Trending Video

Revolutionizing Pork Production: Gene Editing and Antimicrobial Stewardship with Banks Baker of PIC

Video: Revolutionizing Pork Production: Gene Editing and Antimicrobial Stewardship with Banks Baker of PIC

In this episode, we explore the transformative advancements in pork production with Banks Baker of PIC. Consumer expectations for high animal care standards, antimicrobial stewardship, and sustainable practices are reshaping the food industry. Innovative solutions and technologies are emerging to meet these demands, fostering sustainable food production.

Gene editing plays a pivotal role in enhancing animal health and aligns with antibiotic stewardship goals in pork production. Baker discusses the potential impact of gene editing on preventing diseases like PRRS and how it parallels successful applications in human healthcare. Challenges and considerations in applying this technology to animal agriculture, particularly in protecting pigs from diseases, are also explored.

PIC's groundbreaking development of a PRRS-resistant pig through gene editing is highlighted, offering broader implications for pig herd health and the significant reduction of antibiotic use. Navigating global regulatory systems presents challenges and opportunities for PIC, and Baker sheds light on the company's approach to gaining approvals worldwide.

Join us in this episode as we delve into the future of pork production, where cutting-edge technologies and sustainable practices are reshaping the industry landscape.