Environmental and economic advantages of production and application of digestate biochar

It has been repeatedly and independently proved that biochar applications brings a wide range of environmental advantages. For these benefits to have any tangible impact on a global scale, biochar needs to be applied in substantial quantities. However, the commercial applicability of the most of the...

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Published in:Environmental technology & innovation 2023-05, Vol.30, p.103109, Article 103109
Main Authors: Maroušek, Josef, Minofar, Babak, Maroušková, Anna, Strunecký, Otakar, Gavurová, Beata
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
biochar
Biochar properties
biogas
Circular economy
combustion
Competitiveness
environmental technology
Eutrophication
feedstocks
heat
methane
profitability
wastewater treatment
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Summary:It has been repeatedly and independently proved that biochar applications brings a wide range of environmental advantages. For these benefits to have any tangible impact on a global scale, biochar needs to be applied in substantial quantities. However, the commercial applicability of the most of the research to date is limited by demanding requirements for the biochar used (pricy feedstocks or activated in demanding ways). Nevertheless, such production alternatives increase production costs and thus undermine the financial sustainability of many biochar applications. In contrast, the production of biochar from digestate via waste heat (from methane combustion at a biogas plants) brings several synergies that make it possible to obtain biochar at low production costs and at a constant quality throughout the year. Techno-economic considerations above-reviewed literature indicates for the first time that this competitive advantage can be used for mass scale eutrophication prevention. Based on the synthesis of the reviewed literature, the review is accompanied by (1) a proposal for the digestate biochar activation and subsequent use in wastewater treatment plants and (2) a financial estimate, which indicates the profitability of the new application. [Display omitted] •Biochar is a reliable way to sequester carbon.•Biochar applications are not mass scale because they are not profitable enough.•Economic synergies in phosphorus regeneration create prerequisites for biochar profitability.
ISSN:2352-1864
2352-1864
DOI:10.1016/j.eti.2023.103109