Converting Waste Agricultural Biomass into a Resource - UNEP

converted to a high-carbon char material that is collected on the discharge of
the kiln.
Main Products:
The main products are synthesis gas and carbon-rich end materials.
Synthesis Gas
1. Syngas can be used to dry the incoming feed material, fuel an engine
or a gas turbine.
2. Syngas can be used as a feedstock for a secondary refining process.
3. Syngas can be used as a natural gas replacement.
Carbon-rich end materials include char that can be made into:
1. Carbon filtration media
2. Pelletized fuel
3. Carbon for soil enrichment
Operation and Maintenance Requirements:
The system can burn 300kg per hour of various biomass waste materials.
Social Considerations
The systems are fully continuous and the pyrolysis kiln design lends itself to a
variety of feed streams, improving the ability to utilize a diversity of local
biomass resources in the community. A unique gas cleanup system effectively
destroys tars making the syngas clean, reliable and efficient for downstream
applications.
Also, research from the University of South Wales revealed that Agrichar
product from the BEST pyrolysis technology significantly improved soil health
and crop productivity.
Investments and Operating Cost
Approximately 35% by weight of the dry feed material is converted to a highcarbon
char material, which is a product in its own right as a soil amendment,
fuel or filtration media. As proof of concepte, BEST Energies Australia has a
fully operational 300 kg/hr demonstration plant.
Advantages to Developing Countries
1. Fully continuous and small footprint for stand alone or integrated
combined heat and power applications
2. A tool to help actively manage CO2 emissions derived from biomass
waste streams
3. Minimization of volatile gases and odors from decomposing biomass
streams
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