Environmental Research Web, an online journal of eco-friendly news, published an article on the research of K.C. Das, associate professor and coordinator of the Biorefining and Carbon Cycling Research Program at UGA.
He found that by burning peanut shells at low temperatures, he could create a charcoal-like substance, known as biochar, which can be used as a fertilizer on land, as well as a hydrocarbon oil, which can be used as a biofuel.
“Soon it could be used by large manufacturing operations, such as paper mills, which already deal with biomass waste,” Das said. “We are looking at different catalysts which may help produce oil with a better composition.”