SBIR-STTR Award

The overall goals of the proposed project is to synergistically address three key opportunities/challenges in the agricultural sector: 1) reduce CO2 emissions from biomass processing and reduce atmospheric CO2 concentrations 2) transform existing biomass-derived waste streams into value-added products and 3) increase soil carbon and improve soil health The supporting objectives are to 1) demonstrate technical viability of accelerated CO2 capture by hybrid sorbents (e.g. derived from biomass ash) via mineral carbonation reducing reaction times several orders of magnitude 2) generate partially carbonated materials from the above (PCAR)with high surface area and a strong chemical affinity 3) validate the performance of PCAR as a soil amendment for additional CO2 capture in the soil retaining moisture and adsorbing dissolved organic carbon and inorganic nutrients. The proposed work plan is divided into three tasks: 1) laboratory-scale equipment procurement and assembly for testing accelerated CO2 capture; acquisition and characterization of inputs (e.g. biomass ash Ca/Mg silicates) for making hybrid sorbents 2) Proof-of-concept testing of accelerated mineral carbonation for point-source CO2 capture to form PCARs. Enabling reaction environment and sorbent treatment steps will be identified. Carbonation products will be characterized to determine surface area enhancement. 3) PCARs will be used as soil amendments and tested for additional CO2 capture in soil in-situ and for adsorption of nutrients and dissolved organic carbon. The project will establish proof-of-concept of a novel method for capture and mineralization ofCO2 released from biomass processing and use of the resultant materials assoil amendments for increasing soil carbon.