Idea to reality: Build a mobile gasifer that can turn agriculture fibers into a charcoal-like residue, called biochar, that can be used for absorbing liquids, improving water quality and soil characteristcs, and creating energy.
AURI’s role: AURI gathered data to find out what chemicals and nutrients were in the biochar and tested its absorbency. Further work on this high-potential project is ongoing.
Outcomes: Char Energy was awarded a patent for their technology in November 2014. One future goal is to test the biochar’s capacity for removing nitrates and phosphorous from water runoff.