This report provides details on the characteristics and market of biochar being produced by the Logan City Biosolids Gasification Plant.
Report extract
Logan City Council, via the Logan Water Partnership, conducted the Loganholme Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) Gasification Demonstration Plant that illustrates how to treat biosolids with gasification to produce a more environmentally friendly product, called biochar, and renewable energy while reducing the operation and maintenance costs of treating biosolids.
Gasification or carbonisation of biosolids produces biochar that is classified as a Grade A product. Gasification of biosolids destroys persistent organic pollutants (POPs), micro-plastics, and nano-plastics, while retaining phosphorus in a plant available form. The final biochar product is sterile, does not generate odours, is not subject to a restricted storage time before application, and is easier to handle than the current biosolids form. Biochar also reduces the volume of biosolids (dewatered sludge cake) by more than 90%, requiring fewer truck movements and significantly reducing disposal volumes and costs.