Biochar Basics: An Introduction about the

1
Biochar BasicsAn Introduction about the What
and Why of Biochar
Version 1 of these slides was presented at
the 2009 Northeast Biochar
Symposium, November 13 at the
University of Massachusetts Amherst
(Released for general distribution
and use by others.)
Paul S. Anderson, PhD AKA Dr. TLUD
(TEE-lud)
V.P. of Chip Energy Inc
Specialist in micro-gasification
psanders_at_ilstu.edu
Hugh McLaughlin, PhD, PE
Director of Biocarbon Research Alterna
Biocarbon Inc. hmclaughlin_at_alternabiocarbon.com
Slide-set modified and presented by
(Add presenters identification)
2
Biochar Defined

• The placement of charcoal into soils.
• The presence of nearly pure carbon in soils, in
  the form of amorphous graphite.
• NOT carbon that is in living organisms.
• NOT fossil carbon, as in coal, oil, or natural
  gas.

3
His ancestors accomplished soil improvements that
modern science is trying to understand and
replicate.
4
Latosol vs. Terra Preta (Dark Earth)
Terra preta is excellent soil with high presence
of charcoal (biochar).
5
Terra preta might be from slash and char
practices, but NOT from current slash-and-burn
agricultural practices.
6
Summary of Biochar Properties

• Was biomass now has charcoal-like properties.
• Significant carbon content, but more than just
  carbon that has been sequestered
• Internal surface area and adsorption properties.
• CEC cation exchange capacity, better
  fertilizer retention and less field runoff.
• Significant synergisms with soil microbes over
  time nitrogen fixers and other good bugs.

7
Half-life of biochar is 1400 years.
8
Conclusion 1

• There is something about abundant charcoal in
  soils that can be highly beneficial to plants.
• The benefits last for at least hundreds of years.
• Biochar has potential for improving soils and
  feeding people, especially where soils are weak.
• ONLY possible with charcoal
• NOT by putting coal dust into soils.
• NOT by adding manure or other organic material.

9
Basic Forms andTransformations of Carbon


Oxide gases C O CO CO2

• Elemental Carbon C (solid)
• Activated charcoal
• Regular charcoal
• Graphite
• Carbon black (soot)
• Coke (from coal)

Biomolecules C H O Carbohydrates, Sugars,
Cellulose, Lignin, much more in living and dead
biomass.
Hydrocarbons C H Coal, oil,
gases
10
Basic Forms andTransformations of Carbon
Oxide gases C O CO CO2

• Elemental Carbon C (solid)
• Activated charcoal
• Regular charcoal
• Graphite
• Carbon black (soot)
• Coke (from coal)

Add Oxygen Gasification combustion
Add Oxygen Decay
Add H2O and photosynthesis by plants
Carbonization / Pyrolysis Create charcoal
liberate gases
Biomolecules C H O Carbohydrates, Sugars,
Cellulose, Lignin, much more in living and dead
biomass.
Hydrocarbons C H Coal, oil,
gases
Loose Oxygen Become fossil fuels
11
From http//www.techtp.com/Torrefaction20for20H
igh20Quality20Wood20Pellets.pdf, page 7 of 36
12
How does wood burn?

• Wood, consists of hemicellulose, cellulose and
  lignin
• Hemicellulose gasifies at 250 300C
• Cellulose splits into char and volatiles between
  300C and 450C
• Lignin splits into char and volatiles between
  300C and 750C
• Volatilization cools the remaining solid, but the
  gases burn and generate radiant heat (yellow to
  blue light)
• Eventually, oxygen can react with the remaining
  char to make CO2, H2O and ash, plus more heat
  (red light)
• Putting it all together, we can summarize this in
  the next two slides that are easier to
  understand

13
Pyrolysis Carbonization Reactions of Wood Below
288 C Torrefied Wood Above 325 C
Biochar
14
A match shows the simple production of charcoal
The combustion flame (C) burns gases and
provides heat to sustain pyrolysis (P). Ash is
held in the charcoal until G (char-gasification)
releases it. When C goes out, visible smoke
shows condensing gases.
15
Making charcoal

• the first synthetic material produced by man.
• used to draw on the walls of caves, and
• used to transport fire (embers) to new locations.
• later used for smelting tin to make bronze tools.
• easier to do than any of the coal oil gas
  options
• Converting wood to charcoal is done by heating in
  an atmosphere of limited oxygen.
• Known as Pryolysis or Carbonization, we do it
  every time we make a fire with wood.
• And Mother Natures forest fires predate Smoky
  the Bear

16
Chemical changes as wood becomes biochar
Created by photosynthesis using solar energy
CO2 H2O
Charcoal retains 20 of the weight and 30 of
the energy of the biomass, so 70 of the energy
is released as usable vapors.
17
(No Transcript)
18
Conclusion 2

• Charcoal is made by the thermal transformation of
  biological matter, mainly carbohydrates.
• Plant biomass seems to create the best biochar
  both woods and grasses.
• All biochars are not equal both starting
  biomass and carbonization conditions influence
  the final biochar properties.

19
Basic Forms andTransformations of Carbon
Oxide gases C O CO CO2

• Elemental Carbon C (solid)
• Activated charcoal
• Regular charcoal
• Graphite
• Carbon black (soot)
• Coke (from coal)

Add Oxygen Gasification combustion
Add Oxygen Decay
Add H2O and photosynthesis by plants
Carbonization / Pyrolysis Create charcoal
liberate gases
Biomolecules C H O Carbohydrates, Sugars,
Cellulose, Lignin, much more in living and dead
biomass.
Hydrocarbons C H Coal, oil,
gases
Loose Oxygen Become fossil fuels
20
Timelines for Carbon Transformations Permanence
CO2
Burn it.
Burn it.
Natural short-term cycle of growth and decay
(including biomass burning) is Carbon Neutral
C
200 years of fossil fuel consumption is Carbon
Positive C
Biomass (living and dead)
100 million years ( C- )
100 minutes ( C- )
Storing carbon is Carbon Negative C-
Biocarbon
Fossil Fuels
Optional human activity, creating Terra Preta
Biochar in Soils Hundreds or thousands of
years as long-term carbon
sequestration C-
21
Timelines for Carbon Transformations Permanence
CO2
Burn it.
Burn it.
Natural short-term cycle of growth and decay
(including biomass burning) is Carbon Neutral
C
200 years of fossil fuel consumption is Carbon
Positive C in enormous proportions!!!
Biomass (living and dead)
100 million years ( C- )
100 minutes ( C- )
Storing carbon is Carbon Negative C-
Biocarbon
Fossil Fuels
Optional human activity, creating Terra Preta!!!
Biochar in Soils Hundreds or thousands of years
as long-term carbon sequestration
C-
22

23
(No Transcript)
24

Most recent Ice Age
Shows ONLY 400,000 years. Civilization is less
than 10,000 years old.
25
 
26
Conclusion 3

• Global warming can be debated, but the increase
  in atmospheric CO2 levels is clearly measured and
  due to human activities.
• The Earth is very capable of existing with much
  higher CO2 levels, but our current human society
  probably could not.
• The only current reasonable method for human
  action to remove significant amounts of
  atmospheric CO2 is through biochar for carbon
  sequestration.
• And Conclusion 1 states that Biochar is being
  shown to improve poor soils, so put char into
  soils!

27
Potential Sources of Biochar
28
End of the Beginning about Biochar Basics

• Further discussions can cover issues of
• Production of biochar, including cook stoves.
• Application of biochar.
• Impact of biochar on plants and soil microbes.

Or is this the Beginning of the End?

• With the rising CO2 level, living conditions of
  most of humanity will be affected, and current
  cultural structure and political stability are
  unlikely to continue for another 100 years.
• Issues of atmospheric CO2 concentrations will not
  be resolved without conscious and significant
  actions by all the fuel-intense nations of the
  World and actions on the ground everywhere.