A technology has been developed to quickly convert livestock manure, a significant issue in animal farming, into valuable "black gold" rich in carbon within a day.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: The MTB Installed at the Demonstration Site. Credit: KOREA INSTITUTE OF ENERGY RESEARCH Dr. Yoo Ji-ho and his research team from the Clean Air Research Laboratory of the Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER) have developed a process that immediately converts livestock manure into biochar (biomass and charcoal) at livestock farms. Using the process developed by the research team, it is possible to convert 10 tons of livestock manure into biochar in a single day. As of 2022, the amount of livestock manure produced was about 50 million tons, of which 87% is used as compost and liquid fertilizer after being fermented over a long period. However, during this long treatment process, which can last more than 60 days, nitrous oxide (N 2 O), a greenhouse gas 300 times stronger than carbon dioxide, is emitted. Additionally, ammonia (NH 3 ), which causes ultrafine dust and odors, is also released, accounting for 70% of the total emissions nationwide. This has led to persistent odor complaints, becoming a chronic problem for livestock farmers. Group Photo of the Research Team (third from the left in the top row, Chief Researcher Yoo Ji-ho). Credit: KOREA INSTITUTE OF ENERGY RESEARCH Biochar is gaining attention as an…