Fermentation devices for Microbial Activators production and Biochar kilns to obtain added-value products from biomass valorisation.

Technology description & Applications

The following technologies belong to the field of agronomic fertilization as well as environmental waste management. They allow a circular utilisation of agricultural biological waste to produce compounds with positive impact on crops growth as well as helping in depleted soils regeneration. In addition, it helps limiting / avoiding chemical inputs usage.

1. Fermentation equipment to obtain microbial activators

Our fermentation systems enable to implement anaerobic fermentation techniques that are derived from traditional Asian techniques allowing to grow Indigenous Microorganisms (IMO) or Effective Microorganisms (EM).

The principle of these fermentation techniques is to take beneficial microorganisms from soils in healthy and preserved ecosystems, then select and multiply them to obtain microbial activators with numerous benefits:

• Improve soil quality by enhancing soil microbial diversity and restoring the complexity of microbial interaction networks in the soil.
• Improve crop resistanceto stress and crop nutritionby strengthening the plant's microbiome, which allows the plant to better feed and defend against biotic or abiotic stresses.
• Convert organic and animal waste into high quality biofertilizers by providing microorganisms that will improve the transformation processes of organic matter.
• Improve health conditions on livestock farms by providing beneficial microorganisms that strengthen the microbiome of the animals and prevent the establishment of pathogens in the bedding.

2. Fermentation devices to produce plant-base preparations

As an alternative, Rézomes fermenter devices can effectively be used to produce different types of preparations both fermented or not (macerations, infusions, and decoctions) from specific plants commonly used in organic agriculture.

Plant extracts are natural products containing active ingredients with various effects - directly or indirectly - ranging from growth stimulation to protection against pests, depending on the selected plants. They are thus proven alternatives to synthetic inputs now used by a growing number of farmers and landscaping professionals.

To follow are a few examples among a long list of useful biological compounds which may be obtained for plant-base preparations (See https://www.rezomes.com/extraits-fermentes).

• Fermented fern extract. It acts as an anti-fungal and insect repellent. It prevents insect attacks (black and green aphids, leafhoppers, red spiders, scale insects). It also has a preventive and curative anti-fungal function on rust and other fungi.
• Nettle fermented extract. It is commonly used in combination with comfrey fermented extract for foliar spraying and ground watering, both to stimulate the natural defenses of plants and to fertilize soil (rich in nitrogen, trace elements and amino acids, it promotes vegetation growth).
• Horsetail decoction: boiling the plants with water, active ingredients can be extracted and a 10% dilution for foliar spraying is effective as a preventive and curative fungicide.
• Etc...

3. Steel kilns to produce Biochar (charcoal from biomass)

Pyrolysis in absence of oxygen from biomass (wood, branches, crop residues, etc…) is made possible by the biochar kilns design in particular the bottom water injection system and the removable double wall which improves convection and combustion of pyrolysis gases.

This pyrolysis leads to the production of three elements: a mixture of gases, an oily liquid fraction (bio-oil) and a solid residue with a high carbon content, called biochar. Mostly made up of carbon, both mineral and organic, biochar presents several benefits from an agronomic and environmental point of view:

• It increases water retention thanks to its porous structure. Particularly effective in coarse-textured soils (like sandy or pebbly).
• It increases the retention of nitrogen in the soil. When biomass decomposes in the soil, this process can release large amounts of NH4+ which can escape into the atmosphere in the gas phase if the pH is too high, but can also be absorbed by biochar pores. In the presence of organic matter, the biochar oxidizes and becomes enriched in carboxylic functional groups which improve the retention capacity of cations such as ammonium.
• It indirectly improves microbiological activity by providing a better environment for growth. Biochar can help retaining a greater part of the organic matter (crop and cover residues, microbial biomass, organic amendments) as stable humus. In fact, the porous surfaces adsorbs the organic carbon coming from these different sources and retain it in compounds mixed with the minerals, at the same time allowing the microorganisms a more efficient use of these organic debris.
• It increases Cation exchange capacity. Inorganic carbon layers promote the oxidation and reduction reactions that take place in the soil, acting as both sources and sinks of electrons during the metabolic reactions of microorganisms (Lovley et al, 1996).

• It has a positive environmental impact as it acts as a carbon storage trap rather than releasing CO2 into the atmosphere (like wood or charcoal direct combustion).

Biochar is a very complementary and synergistic input to compost or manure in order to improve soil quality. Several studies have examined the effects of biochar on compost maturation and found that adding biochar to compost reduced the amount of labile carbon in the compost while increasing the fraction of stable humic matter, even with an addition of only 2% to the compost (Jindo et al, 2012).

Specifications - New and innovative aspects

Our innovation and expertise consist in the design of equipment allowing to run these processes in a controlled way, in order to obtain a product of constant and reproducible quality.

1. Fermentation devices (See https://www.rezomes.com/materiel-fermentation)

All of premium fermentation devices feature the same design for controlled and reproducible process. They are practically unique in their category on the market:

• Isothermal and thermo-regulated stainless steel cabinet with integrated heating and cooling.
• Stainless steel tanks (100 to 500 L for standard models, with possibility to increase capacity) with waterproof floating lid, automatic paddle stirring system, degassing system and pre-filtering grid.
• Semi-continuous 200 micron filtration system.
• Bag-in-box filling device.

Such equipment is designed for simple and ergonomic use allowing to save time, especially in cleaning and handling. Made 100% with stainless steel, Rézomes equipment is durable and designed for daily and intensive use.

2. Expertise to support local manufacture of equipment

Note than Rézomes also offers the alternative to provide their expertise for the « in-situ » manufacture of equipment with local materials assessing local professionals (in design office mode).

3. Biochar kilns (See https://www.rezomes.com/biochar/)

Inspired by the Kon Tiki open source model developed by the Swiss Ithaka Institute, Rézomes models present many advantages and are designed robustly for regular self-production of biochar:

• Open hearth oven in steel with removable double frame, bottom water injection system, pre-filtering grid and 90° tilting system.
• The removable double frame improves convection and combustion of pyrolysis gases.
• The water injection system from the bottom stops the pyrolysis with the formation of water vapor in contact with the embers, which escapes from the top carrying impurities such as tar.
• The filter system makes it possible to recover the washing water, which also has interesting agronomic properties.
• Capacity ranges from 120 L to 1,2 cubic meter.

Intellectual property status

100% open-source processes and models. Rézomes models are open source under Creative Commons license (possible reproduction for personal use).

Current development status

Commercially available technologies

TRL 8 – Complete and qualified system.

Technology is demonstrated and widely used under tropical and Continental Europe environmental & climatic conditions but requires testing and adaptation under significantly different climate conditions like Mediterranean or even hotter/drier climatic conditions (eg. Middle East).

Microbial activators should be generated from local sources of typical growth material such as local compost or vermicompost, wheat, rice or barley bran, whey, sugarcane or date molasse.

Desired business relationship

Technology selling

Adaptation of technology to other markets

Rézomes (https://www.rezomes.com/) is a novel company already with a well-recognized expertise in its specialized field of organic agriculture. Rézomes mindset is to design solutions using farming techniques recognized and widespread throughout the world to take care of soil, plants and livestock while respecting agro-systems. We also support customers towards self-autonomy by manufacturing equipment and sharing processes.

We look at collaborating with Companies interested in acquiring this technology and /or equipment for use and / or commercial exploitation, through the following transactions:

• Acquisition of equipment (Bio-fermenters) and knowhow to produce bio-fertilizers from agricultural wastes & recyclable domestic waste.
• Agreement R&D project (technical cooperation) to design in-situ equipment (Fermenters, Biochars kilns).
• Agreement R&D project (technical cooperation) for the use or application of technology on different waste sources.
• Contracting agreement for technical assistance and training in support to existing processes and their improvement.