ricioncarbo – biochar is carbonised growth
One of the three pillars of our technology cosmos – we call it ricioncore – is the material and energy recovery of biogenic residues in modern, effective carbonisation plants. On the one hand, this produces energy in the form of synthesis gas, electricity or heat, which will become an indispensable part of the renewable energy transition. On the other hand, biochar is produced, which is a fundamental component of our ricioncore processes and products.
Modern carbonisation plants run continuously all year round and are virtually noise- and emission-free. The resulting biochar is used for the production of ricionterra-Initial and other ricionterra products. Carbonising biomass instead of burning it produces high-quality plant-based carbon as well as surplus energy in the form of synthesis gas, heat and/or electricity in the case of CHP operation. As only half of the biomass is converted into energy during the carbonisation process, releasing CO2, the other half remains permanently on the ground in the form of biochar and is therefore considered an effective CO2 sink. This makes a generally recognised contribution to active climate protection, which is certifiable. With the otherwise usual complete combustion, such as in woodchip-fuelled combined heat and power plants, all the carbon contained in the biomass is re-emitted as CO2 and thus contributes to global warming. In contrast, the ricioncarbo approach enables a climate-friendly energy supply while at the same time producing high-quality biochar from biomass.
Biochar is black and inconspicuous, but it has a lot going for it and has unexpected properties. Its porous inner surface (approx. 300 m² per gram) can bind large quantities of nutrients and water – but also release them again. It is like a “sponge” that consists of “grown” carbon and absorbs CO2 from the atmosphere for a long time during production.
Biochar plays a decisive role in the material flow management of ricion process technologies and also in the economics of the plant systems: “problematic” biomass is converted into a valuable material through carbonisation.
ricion utilises the natural properties of biochar. In our biomass cycle, it is fermented with organic and mineral additives and the ricion bioconcentrate, which consists of anabolic bacteria and fungi, and upgraded into a variety of valuable products.
Our high-performance ricion products are used, for example, in the valorisation of agricultural fertilisers such as fermentation residues from biogas plants, liquid manure, solid manure or production residues. We also offer a range of high-quality products that are used, for example, as garden substrates, tree substrates, organic fertilisers and soil conditioners, filter material or as part of innovative building materials. In all applications with our biochar-based products, there is always a permanent carbon sink (2.5 tonnes of CO2e for 1 tonne of biochar) and thus a significant contribution to active climate protection and regeneration.
Last but not least, the diverse ricion products and their wide range of applications in all areas of regeneration form the basis of the economic sustainability of ricion processes.
- Utilisation of different biogenic material flows
- Extraction of high-quality biochar for a wide range of applications
- Recognised carbon sink (CO2 certificates)
- Heat production (e.g. use for heating residential and commercial buildings, urban neighbourhoods, greenhouses, aquaculture, drying, etc.)
- Production of synthesis gas in certain processes (e.g. utilisation in CHP units for heat and electricity production)
Characteristics of biochar
– High specific surface area (>300 m²/g)
– High water and nutrient storage capacity
– Habitat for valuable microorganisms
– Stable for over 1,000 years – e.g. in soils
– Inhibition of “gram-negative” bacteria
– Immobilisation of pollutants
– Inhibition of odours
– Excellent filter properties
– CO2 (per tonne of CO2 2.5 tonnes of CO2e)