Pitch granules including a core made up of a first composition including at least one pitch, the composition having a penetrability at 25? C. of 0 to 45 1/10 mm, a ring-and-ball softening temperature (TBA) of 55? C. to 175? C., understanding the penetrability as measured according to standard EN 1426 and the TBA as measured according to standard EN 1427, and a layer encapsulating at least one portion of the surface of the core, the layer being made up of a coating composition including at least one anti-caking agent.

Pitch granules including a core made up of a first composition including at least one pitch, the composition having a penetrability at 25? C. of 0 to 45 1/10 mm, a ring-and-ball softening temperature (TBA) of 55? C. to 175? C., understanding the penetrability as measured according to standard EN 1426 and the TBA as measured according to standard EN 1427, and a layer encapsulating at least one portion of the surface of the core, the layer being made up of a coating composition including at least one anti-caking agent.

A coating apparatus having a rotatable drum with at least one moveable separating element arranged on an end side, and granular bodies can be transferred into the drum and/or out of the drum by a movement that leads to release. A separating element can be moved from a closed position into an open position by rotation about an axis of rotation. In the closed position, a subregion lies with its underside against an inner wall of the drum or has a small gap there. In the open position, the subregion on the underside is spaced apart from the inner wall of the drum and there is an opening there through which granular bodies can pass. On the end sides of the drum there are stop elements with which a drum of at least one further module is connectable in order to form a coating apparatus and/or a closure element.

A coating apparatus having a rotatable drum with at least one moveable separating element arranged on an end side, and granular bodies can be transferred into the drum and/or out of the drum by a movement that leads to release. A separating element can be moved from a closed position into an open position by rotation about an axis of rotation. In the closed position, a subregion lies with its underside against an inner wall of the drum or has a small gap there. In the open position, the subregion on the underside is spaced apart from the inner wall of the drum and there is an opening there through which granular bodies can pass. On the end sides of the drum there are stop elements with which a drum of at least one further module is connectable in order to form a coating apparatus and/or a closure element.

A method for capturing material extracted from biochar is provided comprising the steps of: (i) providing a biochar; (ii) contacting the biochar with an extraction media, where the extraction media causes the removal of residual compounds from the pores and surface of the biochar, creating a resulting extract comprised of the extraction media and removed compounds; and (iii) collecting the resulting extract. The method also can include other steps of extraction and purification. The method further comprises the step of applying the resulting extract to seeds, plants, soil, other agricultural products, or for use in other applications. A biochar having high levels of soluble signaling compounds is also provided, where the biochar is derived from a biomass source that together with predefined pyrolysis parameters produces resulting biochar having increased levels of soluble signaling compounds that are known to increase seed germination rates and early plant growth. Such soluble signaling compounds can then be collected in a biochar extract by contacting the biochar with an extraction media.

A method for capturing material extracted from biochar is provided comprising the steps of: (i) providing a biochar; (ii) contacting the biochar with an extraction media, where the extraction media causes the removal of residual compounds from the pores and surface of the biochar, creating a resulting extract comprised of the extraction media and removed compounds; and (iii) collecting the resulting extract. The method also can include other steps of extraction and purification. The method further comprises the step of applying the resulting extract to seeds, plants, soil, other agricultural products, or for use in other applications. A biochar having high levels of soluble signaling compounds is also provided, where the biochar is derived from a biomass source that together with predefined pyrolysis parameters produces resulting biochar having increased levels of soluble signaling compounds that are known to increase seed germination rates and early plant growth. Such soluble signaling compounds can then be collected in a biochar extract by contacting the biochar with an extraction media.

Biochars and methods for producing biochar aggregate particles where the method for producing the aggregate particles comprise the steps of (i) producing or collecting biochar fines; (ii) adding a binding agent to the biochar fines; and (iii) forming the biochar fines and binding agent into solid aggregate particles.

Biochars and methods for producing biochar aggregate particles where the method for producing the aggregate particles comprise the steps of (i) producing or collecting biochar fines; (ii) adding a binding agent to the biochar fines; and (iii) forming the biochar fines and binding agent into solid aggregate particles.

A header design for an efficient single pass enlargement process of sulfur granules having two internal piping structures within an external header conduit for delivering separate molten sulfur liquid streams to different sets of nozzles, wherein a first set of nozzles is subjected to flow streams and pressures uniquely different from a second set of nozzles. A water header design may also include two internal piping structures inside an external pipe casing for delivering water in at least two sets of nozzles, wherein the first set is subjected to flow streams and pressures different from the second set. A method of sulfur seed generation and sulfur granule enlargement for processing sulfur, employing a unique sulfur header design with dual internal piping structures, and possibly utilizing in tandem a water header design having a dual internal piping structure for feeding two sets of nozzles.

A header design for an efficient single pass enlargement process of sulfur granules having two internal piping structures within an external header conduit for delivering separate molten sulfur liquid streams to different sets of nozzles, wherein a first set of nozzles is subjected to flow streams and pressures uniquely different from a second set of nozzles. A water header design may also include two internal piping structures inside an external pipe casing for delivering water in at least two sets of nozzles, wherein the first set is subjected to flow streams and pressures different from the second set. A method of sulfur seed generation and sulfur granule enlargement for processing sulfur, employing a unique sulfur header design with dual internal piping structures, and possibly utilizing in tandem a water header design having a dual internal piping structure for feeding two sets of nozzles.