Hemp Hurd + Hurd Powder

Hemp hurd is a greener and more effective alternative to numerous products and raw materials currently on the market.  Not only is hemp stalk a renewable and more sustainable source compared to trees and fossil fuel feedstock.  Its natural properties (some of which are listed below) also make hemp hurd a more functional material for a variety of uses.

Hurd powder is hemp hurd that has been milled down to 20-30 microns to extend these benefits to uses that require a small particle size.  When milled down to this level, the unique properties of hemp hurd can be expanded to additional uses such as environmental remediation (cleaning up oil spills), bioplastics, ethanol biofuels, industrial cleaning applications, and loss circulation material.

HIGH ABSORPTION
Hemp hurd has a sponge-like composition can absorb up to four times its own weight and prevent moisture from escaping, allowing hurd to trap odors and retain liquids over longer periods of time.

RESILIENCE
Its natural segmentation and creviced structure make hemp hurd naturally resistant to mold, bacteria and mildew as well as termites and other pests, making it more resilient, hygienic and durable compared to other materials. 

INSULATION
Hemp hurd has a porous structure that allows it maintain a very low level of thermal conductivity, making it a ideal insulator.  Its high thermal mass allows hemp hurd to retain heat and regulate thermal performance in cold climates to maintain a consistent temperature indoors.

MOISTURE REGULATION
Hemp hurd is a highly breathable and porous material that can absorb excessive moisture from the air and release it when conditions are dry, allowing it can regulate for excessive moisture.

SUSTAINABLE AND BIODEGRADABLE
We make sure that our hemp stalk is grown naturally, without herbicides or pesticides, and we do not use any chemicals or additives whatsoever in our cleaning process.  Our hurd is also made 100% from natural hemp stalk, making a better alternative to raw materials that, despite being toxic, non-biodegradable or otherwise harmful to the planet, are currently being used in a variety of products and applications.

 

HEMP HURD USES

ANIMAL BEDDING
Hemp hurd animal bedding is more antibacterial, more biodegradable, more capable of neutralizing odors, and more durable compared to other bedding products. Hemp hurd is a highly absorbent and washable material that resists mold, mildew and bacteria, allowing it to stay dry and naturally trap odors.  In fact, hemp hurd is up to 4 times more absorbent than traditional pine or straw bedding.  Its natural residence to mold, bacteria, mildew and pests also creates a cleaner habitat.  Our hemp hurd will keep the homes of your pets and farm animals dry, odorless and clean longer than any other type of bedding currently available.

HEMPCRETE
Hemp hurd is also used in the production of hempcrete, a non-structural alternative to cinderblock with 24 times the R-value (0.1-0.2 per inch of cinderblock versus 2.4-4.8 per inch of hempcrete block) and only a fraction of the weight (hempcrete is 8 times lighter than cinderblock), which together give hempcrete a significant advantage on shipping costs (which also means a significantly lower CO2 footprint) and generate substantial energy savings for homeowners. Hempcrete is not as brittle as concrete so, unlike cinderblock, it does not require expansion joints.  Hempcrete’s ability to insulate, regulate moisture to control humidity, last hundreds of years (becoming stronger over time), and repel harmful organisms (mold, bacteria, mildew, termites and other pests) make it a very effective construction material and, given its light weight and resilience, a very versatile one as well.  The recipe is very simple: just mix our hemp hurd with fractional portions lime binder and water based on the density required for the intended use.  Uses for hempcrete in homebuilding include roofing, non-structural walls and non-structural slabs.

PAPER, PACKAGING AND OTHER TREE PRODUCTS
As a renewable resource that can be grown densely and yield multiple crops per year in certain parts of the United States, hemp hurd is also a better alternative to trees in the production of paper, cardboard and particle board.  Compared to wood pulp, hemp pulp has a higher tear threshold, a higher tensile strength (making it more resilient), and a higher resistance to decomposition.  Trees also have a significantly lower cellulose content (resulting in lower yield) and significantly higher lignin content that must be removed with bleach and toxic chemicals not used in hemp paper production.  In terms of sustainability, it takes up to 10 times more land and up to 100 times more time to produce a pound of wood pulp compared to a pound of hemp pulp.  Trees also consume substantially larger volumes of water than hemp when converted into paper and packaging products.  The paper and pulp industry uses more water to produce a ton of product than any other industry. Hemp hurd is therefore a green alternative to wood not only in terms of deforestation and pollution, but also in terms of water conservation.

HEMP POWDER USES

BIOFUELS
Our hemp powder can be converted to methanol through a dry distillation process that may include pyrolysis (thermochemical decomposition of organic material in the absence of oxygen so that the material doesn’t catch fire). Heating of the material produces gases that can be condensed into methanol.  The charcoal generated as a byproduct of hemp dry distillation can also be used as a solid fuel. Our hemp powder can also be pelletized and used as an alternative to wood fuel. Hemp pellets generate the same amount of heat as wood with similar levels of ash without being corrosive and without causing deforestation.  Hemp pellets can also be used as a more effective alternative to wheat fuel.  Studies have shown that adjusted biomass energy of solid hemp fuel is 2.2 times that of solid wheat fuel. Finally, our hemp powder can be used to produce methane by adding anaerobic bacteria and creating the right anaerobic conditions absence using a biodigester (mechanical stomach) to remove all oxygen and capture the methane gas. Studies have shown that the adjusted biomass energy yield of methane from hemp is higher than that of ethanol from wheat and biodiesel from rapeseed.

ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION AND INDUSTRIAL CLEANERS
With its low density and high absorbency, hurd powder is very useful for cleaning up oil spills and other other forms of environmental remediation as well as industrial cleaning applications.   Hurd powder can absorb up to 4 times its weight, making it the most effective and eco-friendly chemical absorbent on the market.

LOSS CIRCULATION MATERIAL
Hurd powder can be used to create loss circulation material (LCM) for gas well drilling, which is solid material intentionally introduced into drillinh fluis (commonly known as “mud”) to reduce and eventually prevent the flow of drilling fluid into a weak or fractured formation by efficiently bridging over and seal loss zones.  LCM made with hemp powder is more effective than LCM made from other materials thanks to its porous sponge-like composition.