From the Springboard Content Lab
A chemistry professor at Cape Breton University has been working on a sustainable alternative to charcoal called biochar for years.
Biochar, produced by pyrolysis—the process of heating organic waste materials in the absence of oxygen—can be made from a variety of waste streams and has the capability to be used in soil fertilizing, remediating contaminated water sources, and so many other applications.
Through one of the oldest established local collaborations, MacQuarrie and her research team have worked with Cape Breton-based Louisbourg Seafoods to utilize the massive waste produced in snow crab processing as biomass for biochar production.
“Louisbourg Seafoods welcomes the opportunity to collaborate with Dr. MacQuarrie and her team at CBU. The expertise they provide allows us to consider important options for product diversification and waste management opportunities. We look forward to continued research collaborations and the opportunities they bring as a result of our longtime partnership.” Allan MacLean, Louisbourg Seafoods Senior Operations Manager
Louisbourg Seafood collaborates with CBU to make biochar from crab
Louisbourg Seafoods processes more than three million pounds of crab annually. While the crab legs and shoulders are marketed, the bodies, which make up almost 30 percent of the harvested crab, have no market value.
This massive biomass needs to be disposed properly and used to be shipped to a landfill site, 200 km away from the processing plant, which brings a significant cost to the company.
Additionally, as this biomass decay, the crab bodies off-gas can be disruptive to the community surrounding and also contributes to the greenhouse gas emission.
The team at Louisbourg Seafoods was eager to explore opportunities for the waste stream.
The expertise they provide allows us to consider important options for product diversification and waste management opportunities,” says Allan MacLean “We look forward to continued research collaborations and the opportunities they bring as a result of our longtime partnership”
“Springboard and the CBU research office have been instrumental in expanding my research program. Their support has allowed us to develop meaningful collaborations with local businesses like Louisbourg Seafoods, enabling us to apply our research in practical ways that have a significant impact across various industries. Through these partnerships, we’re making sustainable and environmentally friendly products available to sectors such as agriculture, mining, food, and cosmetics." — Dr. Stephanie MacQuarrie, Cape Breton University
High-value products created from crab char
MacQuarrie's research team has been investigating biochar production using various waste streams, including agricultural, food, and forestry waste.
Their comprehensive research has revealed that crab biochar is particularly rich in calcium, nitrogen, and carbon, making it an ideal amendment for soil fertilizers, concrete, and numerous other applications.
The production process involves pyrolysis, where the biomass is heated at lower temperatures compared to traditional charcoal production, thereby reducing the energy input required for biochar. Additionally, the creation of biochar involves minimal chemical inputs, lowering the overall cost of the product.
By producing biochar locally in Cape Breton instead of importing it, the team also significantly reduces the carbon footprint associated with transportation.
Biochar has a wide range of applications, and MacQuarrie's group has explored several of them, including its use as an odor adsorbent, an environmental remediator, a catalyst, and a catalyst support, among many others.
Springboard support was key
Dr. MacQuarrie credits support from Springboard and the CBU research office for expanding her research program to work and develop relationships with local businesses to apply her research in ways that can impact several industries.
Overall, MacQuarrie’s research is making environmentally friendly products available to clients in agriculture, mining, food and the cosmetic industry.
Springboard Atlantic is a network of 19 colleges and universities specializing in research commercialization and industry-led research in Atlantic Canada. It is supported by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency , Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada and member institutions.
The AAU represents the interests of universities across the region, ensuring public visibility for the important role they play in preparing future leaders of our communities, in path-breaking research and innovation, and in contributing to the economic prosperity of life in Atlantic Canada.
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