Building the Future from the Ground Up
Jeff Hallowell
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Founder
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Biomass Controls PBC
Abstract

Producing Biochar from Human Excreta and other High Moisture Feedstocks

This presentation will share field experiences in the processing of high moisture feedstocks such as human excreta and animal manures to produce biochar. Topics will include emissions, odor, drying, energy balance, liquid separation, ISO standards and Life Cycle Analysis (LCA).  Most high moisture feedstocks are expensive to move, require a tipping fee, but ultimately end up in landfills or the ocean. Pyrolysis can provide the benefits of volume reduction and nutrient recovery while treating the output for pathogens, micro-plastics, pesticides, herbicides and pharmaceuticals.  New ISO and EPA standards promote the onsite treatment of these feedstocks and present many profitable opportunities for biochar producers to return local nutrients back to the soil that would otherwise be lost.

Jeff Hallowell
Biomass Controls PBC, Woodstock, United States

Keywords: non sewered sanitationISO 31800Human ExcretaBiosolidsIndiaSewageNutrient RecoveryEnergy BalanceOdor ReductionLife Cycle Analysis

References:
Benedict C.Krueger, Geoffrey D.Fowler, Michael R.Templeton, Berta Moya. Resource recovery and biochar characteristics from full-scale faecal sludge treatment and co-treatment with agricultural waste. Water Research Volume 169, 1 February 2020, 115253 http
Elledge M and Muralidharan A. Technical Brief No. 1 on Menstrual Hygiene Safe Disposal: Observations from Menstrual Waste Disposal Practices in Shared and Public Toilet Spaces (India) [version 1; not peer reviewed]. Gates Open Res 2019, 3:1524 (document)
Rowles, L.S.; Morgan, V.L.; Li, Y.; Zhang, X.; Watabe, S.; Stephen, T.; Lohman, H.A.C.; DeSouza, D.; Hallowell, J.; Cusick, R.D.; Guest, J.S. (Abstract, Presentation) Financial viability and environmental sustainability of fecal sludge management with Omn
Taylor Myers, Lars Schoebitz, Stuart Woolley, Jaime Sanchez Ferragut, Jimmy Thostenson, Kathy Jooss, Jeffrey Piascik, August Frechette, Nico Hotz, Brian Stoner et al. Towards an off-grid fecal sludge treatment unit: demonstrating energy positive thermal t

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