biochar - wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
TRANSCRIPT
-
7/26/2019 Biochar - Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia
1/11
A piece of biochar.
BiocharFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Biocharis charcoal usedas a soil amendment. Like
most charcoal, biochar is made from biomass via
pyrolysis. Biochar is under investigation as an
approach to carbon sequestration to producenegative carbon dioxide emissions.[1]Biochar thus
has the potential to help mitigate climate change via
carbon sequestration.[2][3] Independently, biochar can
increase soil fertility of acidic soils (low pH soils),
increase agriculturalproductivity, and provide
protectionagainst some foliar and soil-borne
diseases.[4]Furthermore, biochar reduces pressure on
forests.[5]Biochar is a stable solid,rich in carbon,
and can endurein soil for thousands of years.[1]
Contents
1 History2 Production
2.1 Centralized, decentralized, and mobile systems2.2 Thermo-catalytic depolymerization
3 Uses3.1 Carbon sink3.2 Soil amendment3.3 Slash-and-char3.4 Water retention3.5 Energy production: Bio-oil and Syngas
4 Direct and indirect benefits5 Research6 Emerging commercial sector7 See also8 Notes
9 References10 External links
History
Pre-Columbian Amazonians are believed to have used biochar to enhance soil productivity. They
produced it by smoldering agricultural waste (i.e., covering burning biomass with soil)[6]in pits or
trenches.[7]European settlers called it terra preta de Indio.[8]Following observations and experiments, a
research team working in French Guiana hypothesized that the Amazonian earthwormPontoscolex
corethruruswas the main agent of fine powdering and incorporation of charcoal debris to the mineral
soil.[9]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Guianahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terra_pretahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smolderhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pre-Columbian_erahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_rainforesthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Biochar.jpghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fertility_(soil)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acidic_soilhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_changehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negative_carbon_dioxide_emissionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_sequestrationhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyrolysishttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earthwormhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Guianahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terra_pretahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smolderhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_rainforesthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pre-Columbian_erahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbonhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forestshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acidic_soilhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fertility_(soil)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_changehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negative_carbon_dioxide_emissionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_sequestrationhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyrolysishttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biomasshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soil_conditionerhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charcoalhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Biochar.jpg -
7/26/2019 Biochar - Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia
2/11
The term biochar was coined by Peter Read to describe charcoal used as a soil improvement.[10]
Production
Biochar is a high-carbon, fine-grained residue that today is produced through modern pyrolysis
processes, which is the direct thermal decomposition of biomass in the absence of oxygen, which
prevents combustion, to obtain an array of solid (biochar), liquid (bio-oil), and gas (syngas) products.
The specific yield from the pyrolysis is dependent on process conditions. such as temperature, and can
be optimized to produce either energy or biochar.[11]Temperatures of 400500 C (752932 F) produce
more char, while temperatures above 700 C (1,292 F) favor the yield of liquid and gas fuel
components.[12]Pyrolysis occurs more quickly at the higher temperatures, typically requiring seconds
instead of hours. High temperature pyrolysis is also known as gasification, and produces primarily
syngas.[12]Typical yields are 60% bio-oil, 20% biochar, and 20% syngas. By comparison, slow pyrolysis
can produce substantially more char (~50%). Once initialized, both processes produce net energy. For
typical inputs, the energy required to run a fast pyrolyzer is approximately 15% of the energy that it
outputs.[13]Modern pyrolysis plants can use the syngas created by the pyrolysis process and output 39
times the amount of energy required to run.[7]
The Amazonian pit/trench method[7]harvests neither bio-oil nor syngas, and releases a large amount of
CO2, black carbon, and other greenhouse gases (GHG)s (and potentially, toxins) into the air.
Commercial-scale systems process agricultural waste, paper byproducts, and even municipal waste and
typically eliminate these side effects by capturing and using the liquid and gas products.
Centralized, decentralized, and mobile systems
In a centralized system, all biomass in a region is brought to a central plant for processing. Alternatively,
each farmer or group of farmers can operate a lower-tech kiln. Finally, a truck equipped with a pyrolyzer
can move from place to place to pyrolyze biomass. Vehicle power comes from the syngas stream, while
the biochar remains on the farm. The biofuel is sent to a refinery or storage site. Factors that influence
the choice of system type include the cost of transportation of the liquid and solid byproducts, the
amount of material to be processed, and the ability to feed directly into the power grid.
For crops that are not exclusively for biochar production, the residue-to-product ratio (RPR) and the
collection factor (CF) the percent of the residue not used for other things, measure the approximate
amount of feedstock that can be obtained for pyrolysis after harvesting the primary product. For
instance, Brazil harvests approximately 460 million tons (MT) of sugarcane annually,[14]with an RPR of
0.30, and a CF of 0.70 for the sugarcane tops, which normally are burned in the field.[15]This translates
into approximately 100 MT of residue annually, which could be pyrolyzed to create energy and soil
additives. Adding in the bagasse (sugarcane waste) (RPR=0.29 CF=1.0), which is otherwise burned
(inefficiently) in boilers, raises the total to 230 MT of pyrolysis feedstock. Some plant residue, however,
must remain on the soil to avoid increased costs and emissions from nitrogen fertilizers.[16]
Pyrolysis technologies for processing loose and leafy biomass produce both biochar and syngas.[17]
Thermo-catalytic depolymerization
Alternatively, "thermo-catalytic depolymerization", which utilizes microwaves, has recently been used to
efficiently convert organic matter to biochar on an industrial scale, producing ~50% char.[18][19]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dielectric_heatinghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bagassehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sugarcanehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazilhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biofuelhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syngashttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kilnhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxinhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenhouse_gashttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_carbonhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bio-oilhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syngashttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gasificationhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syngashttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyrolysis_oilhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combustionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxygenhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermal_decompositionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyrolysis -
7/26/2019 Biochar - Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia
3/11
Uses
Carbon sink
The burning and natural decomposition of biomass and in particular agricultural waste adds large
amounts of CO2to the atmosphere. Biochar that is stable, fixed, and 'recalcitrant' carbon can store large
amounts of greenhouse gases in the ground for centuries, potentially reducing or stalling the growth in
atmospheric greenhouse gas levels at the same time its presence in the earth can improve water quality,
increase soil fertility, raise agricultural productivity, and reduce pressure on old-growth forests.[20]
Biochar can sequester carbon in the soil for hundreds to thousands of years, like coal.[21][22][23][24][25]
Such a carbon-negative technology would lead to a net withdrawal of CO2from the atmosphere, while
producing and consuming energy. This technique is advocated by prominent scientists such as James
Hansen, head of the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies,[26]and James Lovelock, creator of the
Gaia hypothesis, for mitigation of global warming by greenhouse gas remediation.[27]
Researchers have estimated that sustainable use of biocharring could reduce the global net emissions of
carbon dioxide (CO2), methane, and nitrous oxide by up to 1.8Pg CO2-C equivalent (CO2-Ce) per year
(12% of current anthropogenic CO2-Ce emissions 1Pg=1Gt), and total net emissions over the course of
the next century by 130Pg CO2-Ce, without endangering food security, habitat, or soil conservation.[28]
Soil amendment
Biochar is recognised as offering a number of benefits for soil health. Many benefits are related to the
extremely porous nature of biochar. This structure is found to be very effective at retaining both waterand water-soluble nutrients. Soil biologist Elaine Ingham indicates[29]the extreme suitability of biochar
as a habitat for many beneficial soil micro organisms. She points out that when pre charged with these
beneficial organisms biochar becomes an extremely effective soil amendment promoting good soil, and
in turn plant, health.
Biochar has also been shown to reduce leaching ofE-colithrough sandy soils depending on application
rate, feedstock, pyrolysis temperature, soil moisture content, soil texture, and surface properties of the
bacteria.[30][31][32]
For plants that require high potash and elevated pH,[33]biochar can be used as a soil amendment to
improve yield.
Biochar can improve water quality, reduce soil emissions of greenhouse gases, reduce nutrient leaching,
reduce soil acidity, and reduce irrigation and fertilizer requirements.[34]Biochar was also found under
certain circumstances to induce plant systemic responses to foliar fungal diseases and to improve plant
responses to diseases caused by soilborne pathogens.[35][36][37]
The various impacts of biochar can be dependent on the properties of the biochar, [38]as well as the
amount applied,[37]and there is still a lack of knowledge about the important mechanisms andproperties.[39]Biochar impact may depend on regional conditions including soil type, soil condition
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fertilizerhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irrigationhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soil_acidityhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leaching_(agriculture)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenhouse_gaseshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soil_conditionerhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PHhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potashhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Escherichia_colihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soil_biologyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elaine_Inghamhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_dioxide_equivalenthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenhouse_gas_remediationhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitigation_of_global_warminghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaia_hypothesishttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Lovelockhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goddard_Institute_for_Space_Studieshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Hansenhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coalhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old-growth_forest -
7/26/2019 Biochar - Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia
4/11
(depleted or healthy), temperature, and humidity.[40]Modest additions of biochar to soil reduce nitrous
oxide N2O emissions by up to 80% and eliminate methane emissions, which are both more potent
greenhouse gases than CO2.[41]
Studies have reported positive effects from biochar on crop production in degraded and nutrientpoor
soils.[42]Biochar can be designed with specific qualities to target distinct properties of soils.[43]Biochar
reduces leaching of critical nutrients, creates a higher crop uptake of nutrients, and provides greater soil
availability of nutrients.[44]At 10% levels biochar reduced contaminant levels in plants by up to 80%,
while reducing total chlordane and DDX content in the plants by 68 and 79%, respectively. [45]On the
other hand, because of its high adsorption capacity, biochar may reduce the efficacy of soil applied
pesticides that are needed for weed and pest control.[46][47]High-surface-area biochars may be
particularly problematic in this regard more research into the long-term effects of biochar addition to
soil is needed.[46]
Slash-and-char
Switching fromslash-and-burntoslash-and-charfarming techniques in Brazil can decrease both
deforestation of the Amazon basin and carbon dioxide emission, as well as increase crop yields. Slash-
and-burn leaves only 3% of the carbon from the organic material in the soil.[48]
Slash-and-char can keep up to 50% of the carbon in a highly stable form.[49]Returning the biochar into
the soil rather than removing it all for energy production reduces the need for nitrogen fertilizers, thereby
reducing cost and emissions from fertilizer production and transport.[50]Additionally, by improving the
soil's ability to be tilled, fertility, and productivity, biocharenhanced soils can indefinitely sustain
agricultural production, whereas non-enriched soils quickly become depleted of nutrients, forcing
farmers to abandon the fields, producing a continuous slash and burn cycle and the continued loss of
tropical rainforest. Using pyrolysis to produce bio-energy also has the added benefit of not requiring
infrastructure changes the way processing biomass for cellulosic ethanol does. Additionally, the biochar
produced can be applied by the currently used machinery for tilling the soil or equipment used to apply
fertilizer.[51]
Water retention
Biochar is a desirable soil material in many locations due to its ability to attract and retain water. This is
possible because of its porous structure and high surface area.[52]As a result, nutrients, phosphorus, andagrochemicals are retained for the plants benefit. Plants therefore, are healthier and fertilizers leach less
into surface or groundwater.
Energy production: Bio-oil and Syngas
Mobile pyrolysis units can be used to lower the costs of transportation of the biomass if the biochar is
returned to the soil and the syngas stream is used to power the process.[53][54]Bio-oil contains organic
acids that are corrosive to steel containers, has a high water vapor content that is detrimental to ignition,
and, unless carefully cleaned, contains some biochar particles which can block injectors.[55]
If biochar is used for the production of energy rather than as a soil amendment, it can be directly
substituted for any application that uses coal. Pyrolysis also may be the most cost-effective way of
electricity generation from biomaterial.[56]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_generationhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cellulosic_ethanolhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical_rainforesthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_basinhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slash-and-charhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slash-and-burnhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chlordanehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methanehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitrous_oxide -
7/26/2019 Biochar - Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia
5/11
Direct and indirect benefits
The pyrolysis of forest- or agriculture-derived biomass residue generates a biofuel withoutcompetition with crop production.Biochar is a pyrolysis byproduct that may be ploughed into soils in crop fields to enhance theirfertility and stability, and for medium- to long-term carbon sequestration in these soils.
Biochar enhances the natural process: the biosphere captures CO2, especially through plant
production, but only a small portion is stably sequestered for a relatively long time (soil, wood,etc.).Biomass production to obtain biofuels and biochar for carbon sequestration in the soil is a carbon-
negative process, i.e. more CO2is removed from the atmosphere than released, thus enabling
long-term sequestration.[57]
Research
Intensive research into manifold aspects involving the pyrolysis/biochar platform is underway around
the world. From 2005 to 2012, there were 1,038 articles that included the word biochar or bio-charin the topic that had been indexed in the ISI Web of Science. [58]Further research is in progress by such
diverse institutions around the world as Cornell University, the University of Edinburgh, which has a
dedicated research unit.,[59]and the Agricultural Research Organization (ARO) of Israel, Volcani Center,
where a network of researchers involved in biochar research (iBRN, Israel Biochar Researchers Network
(https://sites.google.com/site/ibrnisraelbiocharnetwork/)) was established as early as 2009.
Students at Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey are developing supercapacitors that use
electrodes made of biochar.[60]A process developed by University of Florida researchers that removes
phosphate from water, also yields methane gas usable as fuel and phosphate-laden carbon suitable for
enriching soil.[61]
Emerging commercial sector
Calculations suggest that emissions reductions can be 12 to 84% greater if biochar is put back into the
soil instead of being burned to offset fossil-fuel use. Thus biochar sequestration offers the chance to turn
bioenergy into a carbon-negative industry.[62]
Johannes Lehmann, of Cornell University, estimates that pyrolysis can be cost-effective for a
combination of sequestration and energy production when the cost of a CO 2ton reaches $37.[62]As of
mid-February 2010, CO2is trading at $16.82/ton on the European Climate Exchange (ECX), so using
pyrolysis for bioenergy production may be feasible even if it is more expensive than fossil fuel.
Current biochar projects make no significant impact on the overall global carbon budget, although
expansion of this technique has been advocated as a geoengineering approach.[63]In May 2009, the
Biochar Fund received a grant from the Congo Basin Forest Fund for a project in Central Africa to
simultaneously slow down deforestation, increase the food security of rural communities, provide
renewable energy and sequester carbon.
Application rates of 2.520 tonnes per hectare (1.08.1 t/acre) appear to be required to produce
significant improvements in plant yields. Biochar costs in developed countries vary from $300
7000/tonne, generally too high for the farmer/horticulturalist and prohibitive for low-input field crops. In
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renewable_energyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_securityhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deforestationhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Africahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_engineeringhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Climate_Exchangehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emissions_tradinghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methane_gashttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phosphatehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Floridahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supercapacitorhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stevens_Institute_of_Technologyhttps://sites.google.com/site/ibrnisraelbiocharnetwork/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volcani_Institute_of_Agricultural_Researchhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Edinburghhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornell_University -
7/26/2019 Biochar - Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia
6/11
developing countries, constraints on agricultural biochar relate more to biomass availability andproduction time. An alternative is to use small amounts of biochar in lower cost biochar-fertilizer
complexes.[64]
Various companies in North America, Australia, and England sell biochar or biochar production units. In
England Carbon Gold supply a range of biochar-based soil improvers, composts and fertilisers for
arboriculture, horticulture and turfcare as well as to home growers. In Sweden the 'Stockholm Solution'
is an urban tree planting system that uses 30% biochar to support healthy growth of the urban forest. TheQatar Aspire Park now uses biochar to help trees cope with the intense heat of their summers.
At the 2009 International Biochar Conference, a mobile pyrolysis unit with a specified intake of 1,000
pounds (450 kg) was introduced for agricultural applications. The unit had a length of 12 feet and height
of 7 feet (3.6 m by 2.1m).[65]
A production unit in Dunlap, Tennessee by Mantria Corporation opened in August 2009 after testing and
an initial run, was later shut down as part of a Ponzi scheme investigation.[66]
See also
Activated carbonCharringPellet fuelSoil carbonSoil ecology
Notes
1. Lean, Geoffrey (7 December 2008). "Ancient skills 'could reverse global warming' ". The Independent.
Archived from the original on 13 September 2011. Retrieved 1 October 2011.
2. "Geoengineering the climate: science, governance and uncertainty". The Royal Society. 2009. Retrieved
22 August 2010.
3. Dominic Woolf, James E. Amonette, F. Alayne Street-Perrott, Johannes Lehmann, Stephen Joseph Amonette
Street-Perrott Lehmann Joseph (August 2010). "Sustainable biochar to mitigate global climate change".
Nature Communications1 (5): 19. Bibcode:2010NatCo...1E..56W. doi:10.1038/ncomms1053. ISSN 2041-
1723.
4. "Slash and Char". Retrieved 19 September 2014.
5. Benoit Anthony Ndameu (November 2011). "Biochar Fund Trials in Cameroon: Hype and UnfulfilledPromises" (PDF). Biofuelwatch. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
6. Solomon, Dawit, Johannes Lehmann, Janice Thies, Thorsten Schafer, Biqing Liang, James Kinyangi,
Eduardo Neves, James Petersen, Flavio Luizao, and Jan Skjemstad,Molecular signature and sources of
biochemical recalcitrance of organic carbone in Amazonian Dark Earths , 71 Geochemica et cosmochemica
ACTA 2285, 2286 (2007) ("Amazonian Dark Earths (ADE) are a unique type of soils apparently developed
between 500 and 9000 years B.P. through intense anthropogenic activities such as biomass-burning and high-
intensity nutrient depositions on pre-Columbian Amerindian settlements that transformed the original soils
into Fimic Anthrosols throughout the Brazilian Amazon Basin.") (internal citations omitted)
7. Lehmann 2007a, pp. 381387 To date, scientists have been unable to completely reproduce the beneficial
growth properties of terra preta. It is hypothesized that part of the alleged benefits of terra preta require the
biochar to be aged so that it increases the cation exchange capacity of the soil, among other possible effects. Infact, there is no evidence natives made biocahr for soil treatment, but really for transportable fuel charcoal.
Abandoned or forgotten charcoal pits left for centuries were eventually reclaimed by the forest. In that time
the harsh negative effects of the char (high pH, extreme ash content, salinity) had worn off and turned to
positive as the forest soil ecosystem saturated the charcoals with nutrients.supranote 2 at 386 ("Only aged
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biofuelwatchhttp://www.biofuelwatch.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/Biochar-Cameroon-report1.pdfhttp://www.biochar.org/joomla/index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=24https://www.worldcat.org/issn/2041-1723https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Standard_Serial_Numberhttps://dx.doi.org/10.1038%2Fncomms1053https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_object_identifierhttp://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2010NatCo...1E..56Whttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bibcodehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Royal_Societyhttp://royalsociety.org/Geoengineering-the-climate/http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change/ancient-skills-could-reverse-global-warming-1055700.htmlhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Independenthttps://web.archive.org/web/20110913052413/http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change/ancient-skills-could-reverse-global-warming-1055700.htmlhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soil_ecologyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soil_carbonhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pellet_fuelhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charringhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Activated_carbonhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ponzi_schemehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mantria_Corporation_Ponzi_schemehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunlap,_Tennesseehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Englandhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_America -
7/26/2019 Biochar - Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia
7/11
biochar shows high cation retention, as in Amazonian Dark Earths. At high temperatures (3070C), cation
retention occurs within a few months. The production method that would attain high CEC in soil in cold
climates is not currently known.") (internal citations omitted).
8. Glaser, Lehmann & Zech 2002, pp. 219220 "These so-called Terra Preta do Indio (Terra Preta) characterize
the settlements of pre-Columbian Indios. In Terra Preta soils large amounts of black C indicate a high and
prolonged input of carbonized organic matter probably due to the production of charcoal in hearths, whereas
only low amounts of charcoal are added to soils as a result of forest fires and slash-and-burn techniques."
(internal citations omitted)
9. Jean-Franois Ponge, Stphanie Topoliantz, Sylvain Ballof, Jean-Pierre Rossi, Patrick Lavelle, Jean-MarieBetsch and Philippe Gaucher (2006). "Ingestion of charcoal by the Amazonian earthworm Pontoscolex
corethrurus: a potential for tropical soil fertility" (PDF). Soil Biology and Biochemistry38 (7): 20082009.
doi:10.1016/j.soilbio.2005.12.024.
10. Read, Peter (27 March 2009). "This gift of nature is the best way to save us from climate catastrophe.
Biochar schemes would remove carbon from the atmosphere and increase food supply, says Peter Read".
Guardian (London).
11. Gaunt & Lehmann 2008, pp. 4152, 4155 ("Assuming that the energy in syngas is converted to electricity with
an efficiency of 35%, the recovery in the life cycle energy balance ranges from 92 to 274 kg (203 to 604 lb)
CO2MW-1 of electricity generated where the pyrolysis process is optimized for energy and 120 to 360
kilograms (790 lb) CO2MW-1 where biochar is applied to land. This compares to emissions of 600900
kilograms (1,3002,000 lb) CO2MW-1 for fossil-fuel-based technologies.)12. Winsley, Peter (2007). "Biochar and bioenergy production for climate change mitigation". New Zealand
Science Review64. (See Table 1 for differences in output for Fast, Intermediate, Slow, and Gasification).
13. Laird 2008, pp. 100, 178181 "The energy required to operate a fast pyrolyzer is 15% of the total energy
that can be derived from the dry biomass. Modern systems are designed to use the syngas generated by the
pyrolyzer to provide all the energy needs of the pyrolyzer."
14. "Production Quantity Of Sugar Cane In Brazil In 2006". FAOSTAT. 2006. Retrieved 1 July 2008.
15. Perera, K.K.C.K., P.G. Rathnasiri, S.A.S. Senarath, A.G.T. Sugathapala, S.C. Bhattacharya, and P. Abdul
Salam,Assessment of sustainable energy potential of non-plantation biomass resources in SriLanka, 29
Biomass & Bioenergy 199, 204 (2005) (showing RPRs for numerous plants, describing method for
determining available agricultural waste for energy and char production).
16. Laird 2008, pp. 179 "Much of the current scientific debate on the harvesting of biomass for bioenergy isfocused on how much can be harvested without doing too much damage."
17. Jorapur, Rajeev Rajvanshi, Anil K. (1997). "Sugarcane leaf-bagasse gasifier for industrial heating
applications". Biomass and Bioenergy13 (3): 141. doi:10.1016/S0961-9534(97)00014-7.
18. Karagz, Selhan Bhaskar, Thallada Muto, Akinori Sakata, Yusaku Oshiki, Toshiyuki Kishimoto, Tamiya
(1 April 2005). "Low-temperature catalytic hydrothermal treatment of wood biomass: analysis of liquid
products". Chemical Engineering Journal108 (12): 127137. doi:10.1016/j.cej.2005.01.007. ISSN 1385-
8947. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
19. Jha, Alok (13 March 2009). " 'Biochar' goes industrial with giant microwaves to lock carbon in charcoal". The
Guardian. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
20. Laird 2008, pp. 100, 178181
21. Lehmann, Johannes. "Terra Preta de Indio". Soil Biochemistry (internal citations omitted). Not only dobiochar-enriched soils contain more carbon - 150gC/kg compared to 20-30gC/kg in surrounding soils - but
biochar-enriched soils are, on average, more than twice as deep as surrounding soils.
22. Lehmann 2007b "this sequestration can be taken a step further by heating the plant biomass without oxygen (a
process known as low-temperature pyrolysis)."
23. Lehmann 2007a, pp. 381, 385 "pyrolysis produces 39 times more energy than is invested in generating the
energy. At the same time, about half of the carbon can be sequestered in soil. The total carbon stored in these
soils can be one order of magnitude higher than adjacent soils.
24. Winsley, Peter (2007). "Biochar and Bioenergy Production for Climate Change Mitigation" (PDF).New
Zealand Science Review64 (5): 5.
25. Kern, Dirse C. (915 July 2006). "New Dark Earth Experiment in the Tailandia City Para-Brazil: The
Dream of Wim Sombroek". 18th World Congress of Soil Science.26. Hamilton, Tyler (22 June 2009). "Sole option is to adapt, climate author says". The Star (Toronto).
27. Vince 2009
28. "Sustainable biochar to mitigate global climate change". Nature Communications. 2010.
29. Ingham, Elaine with Elaine Ingham (http://www.needfire.info/home/interview-with-dr-elaine-ingham%7CInte
http://www.needfire.info/home/interview-with-dr-elaine-ingham%7CInterviewhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nature_Communicationshttp://www.nature.com/ncomms/journal/v1/n5/full/ncomms1053.htmlhttp://www.thestar.com/sciencetech/article/654444https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand_Science_Reviewhttp://www.biochar-international.org/images/NZSR64_1_Winsley.pdfhttp://www.css.cornell.edu/faculty/lehmann/research/terra%20preta/terrapretamain.htmlhttp://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/mar/13/charcoal-carbonhttps://www.worldcat.org/issn/1385-8947https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Standard_Serial_Numberhttps://dx.doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.cej.2005.01.007https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_object_identifierhttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1385894705000227https://dx.doi.org/10.1016%2FS0961-9534%2897%2900014-7https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_object_identifierhttp://faostat.fao.org/site/567/DesktopDefault.aspx?PageID=567https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand_Science_Reviewhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Guardianhttp://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/mar/27/biocharhttps://dx.doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.soilbio.2005.12.024https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_object_identifierhttps://www.researchgate.net/publication/44735820 -
7/26/2019 Biochar - Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia
8/11
rview),(2015)
30. Bolster, C.H., and Abit, S.M. (2012) Biochar pyrolyzed at two temperatures affects Escherichia coli transport
through a sandy soil. Journal of Environmental Quality 41:124-133
31. Abit, S.M., Bolster, C.H., Cai, P., and Walker, S.L. (2012) Influence of feedstock and pyrolysis temperature
of biochar amendments on transport of Escherichia coli in saturated and unsaturated soil. Environmental
Science and Technology 46:8097-8105
32. Abit, S.M., Bolster, C.H., Cantrell, K.B., Flores, J.Q., and Walker, S.L. (2014) Transport of Escherichia
coli, Salmonella typhimurium, and microspheres in biochar-amended soils with different textures. Journal of
Environmental Quality 43:371-37833. Lehmann, Johannes, and Jose Pereira da Silva Jr., Christoph Steiner, Thomas Nehls, Wolfgang Zech, &
Bruno Glaser,Nutrient availability and leaching in an archaeological Anthrosol and a Ferralsol of the
Central Amazon basin: fertilizer, manure and charcoal amendments, 249 Plant & Soil 343, 355 (2003)
34. Supranote 6 Day, Danny, Robert J. Evans, James W. Lee, and Don Reicosky,Economical CO2, SOx, and N
x capture from fossil-fuel utilization with combined renewable hydrogen production and large-scale carbon
sequestration, 30 Energy 2558, 2560
35. Elad, Y., Rav David, D., Meller Harel, Y., Borenshtein, M. , Kalifa Hananel, B., Silber, A., and Graber, E.R.
(2010) Induction of systemic resistance in plants by biochar, a soil-applied carbon sequestering agent.
Phytopathology 100, 913-921
36. Meller Harel, Y., Elad, Y., Rav David, D., Borenstein, M., Schulcani, R., Lew, B., Graber, E.R. (2012)
Biochar mediates systemic response of strawberry to foliar fungal pathogens. Plant and Soil, 357:245-25737. Jaiswal, A.K., Elad, Y., Graber, E.R., Frenkel, O. (2014). Rhizoctonia solani suppression and plant growth
promotion in cucumber as affected by biochar pyrolysis temperature, feedstock and concentration. Soil
Biology and Biochemistry, 69: 110-118
38. Silber, A., Levkovitch, I., Graber, E. R. (2010) pH-dependent mineral release and surface properties of
cornstraw biochar: Agronomic implications. Environmental Science & Technology 44: 9318-9323
39. Glaser, Lehmann & Zech 2002, pp. 224 note 7 "Three main factors influence the properties of charcoal: (1)
the type of organic matter used for charring, (2) the charring environment (e.g. temperature, air), and (3)
additions during the charring process. The source of charcoal material strongly influences the direct effects of
charcoal amendments on nutrient contents and availability."
40. Dr. Wardle points out that plant growth has been observed in tropical (depleted) soils by referencing
Lehmann, but that in the boreal (high native soil organic matter content) forest this experiment was run in, itaccelerated the native soil organic matter loss. Wardle,supra note 18. ("Although several studies have
recognized the potential of black C for enhancing ecosystem carbone sequestration, our results show that these
effects can be partially offset by its capacity to stimulate loss of native soil C, at least for boreal forests.")
(internal citations omitted) (emphasis added).
41. Lehmann 2007a, pp. note 3 at 384 "In greenhouse experiments, NOxemissions were reduced by 80% and
methane emissions were completely suppressed with biochar additions of 20 g kg-1 (2%) to a forage grass
stand."
42. "Biochar fact sheet".
43. Novak, Jeff. Development of Designer Biochar to Remediate Specific Chemical and Physical Aspects of
Degraded Soils. Proc. of North American Biochar Conference 2009, University of Colorado at Boulder.
Florence: U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2009. 1-16. Print44. Julie, Major, Johannes Lehmann, Macro Rondon, and Susan J. Riha. Nutrient Leaching below the Rooting
Zone Is Reduced by Biochar, the Hydrology of a Columbian Savanna Oxisol Is Unaffected. Proc. of North
American Biochar Conference 2009, University of Colorado at Boulder. Ithaca: Cornell University
Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, 2009. Print.
45. Elmer, Wade, Jason C. White, and Joseph J. Pignatello. Impact of Biochar Addition to Soil on the
Bioavailability of Chemicals Important in Agriculture. Rep. New Haven: University of Connecticut, 2009.
Print.
46. Graber, E.R., Tsechansky, L., Gerstl, Z., Lew, B. (2011) High surface area biochar negatively impacts
herbicide efficacy. Plant and Soil, 353:95-106
47. Graber, E.R., Tsechansky, L., Khanukov, J., Oka, Y. (2011) Sorption, volatilization and efficacy of the
fumigant 1,3-dichloropropene in a biochar-amended soil. Soil Science Society of America Journal. 75(4)1365-1373
48. Glaser, Lehmann & Zech 2002, pp. note 7 at 225 "The published data average at about 3% charcoal formation
of the original biomass C."
49.Biochar Sequestration In Terrestrial Ecosystems A Review, by Johannes Lehmann, John Gaunt, and Marco
http://www.csiro.au/resources/Biochar-Factsheet.htmlhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic_matterhttp://www.needfire.info/home/interview-with-dr-elaine-ingham%7CInterview -
7/26/2019 Biochar - Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia
9/11
References
Badger, Phillip C. Fransham, Peter (2006). "Use of mobile fast pyrolysis plants to densifybiomass and reduce biomass handling costsA preliminary assessment".Biomass & Bioenergy30.
Biederman, Lori A. W. Stanley Harpole (2011). "Biochar and Managed Perennial Ecosystems".Iowa State Research Farm Progress Reports. Retrieved February 12, 2013.Brewer, Catherine (2012).Biochar Characterization and Engineering(dissertation). Iowa State
University. Retrieved February 12, 2013.Gaunt, John L. Lehmann, Johannes (2008). "Energy Balance and Emissions Associated withBiochar Sequestration and pyrolysis Bioenergy Production".Environmental Sciences &Technologies42(11): 4152. Bibcode:2008EnST...42.4152G. doi:10.1021/es071361i.
Rondon. Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global change 403, 404 (2006).supranote 11 at 407 ("If
this woody above ground biomass were converted into biochar by means of simple kiln techniques and applied
to soil, more than 50% of this carbon would be sequestered in a highly stable form.")
50. Gaunt & Lehmann 2008, pp. 4152 note 3 ("This results in increased crop yields in low-input agriculture and
increased crop yield per unit of fertilizer applied (fertilizer efficiency) in high-input agriculture as well as
reductions in off-site effects such as runoff, erosion, and gaseous losses.")
51. Lehmann 2007b, pp. note 9 at 143 "It can be mixed with manures or fertilizers and included in no-tillage
methods, without the need for additional equipment."
52. Terra Pretas: Charcoal Amendments Influence on Relict Soils and Modern Agriculture (https://www.agronomy.org/files/students/2010-ricigliano-entry.pdf)
53. Badger & Fransham 2006, pp. 322
54. Michael Jacobson, Cedric Briens and Franco Berruti, "Lift tube technology for increasing heat transfer in an
annular pyrolysis reactor", CFB9, Hamburg, Germany, 1316 May 2008.
55. Yaman, Serdar,pyrolysis of biomass to produce fuels and chemical feedstocks, 45 Energy Conversion &
MGMT 651, 659 (2003).
56. Bridgwater, A. V., A.J. Toft, and J.G. Brammer,A techno-economic comparison of power production by
biomass fast pyrolysis with gasification and combustion, 6 Renewable & Sustainable Energy Rev. 181, 231
("the fast pyrolysis and diesel engine system is clearly the most economic of the novel systems at scales up to
15 MWe")
57. Cornet A., Escadafal R., 2009. Is biochar "green"? CSFD Viewpoint. Montpellier, France. 8 pp.58. Verheijen, F.G.A., Graber, E.R., Ameloot, N., Bastos, A.C., Sohi, S. and Knicker, H. 2014. Biochars in
soils: new insights and emerging research needs. Eur. J. Soil Science, 65: 22-27. DOI: 10.1111/ejss.12127.
59. "Can Biochar save the planet?". University of Edinburgh. Retrieved 10 March 2009.
60. "A Cheaper, Greener Material for Supercapacitors". Stevens Institute of Technology. 2011. Retrieved 25 May
2011.
61. "Biochar" More Effective, Cheaper at Removing Phosphate from Water". University of Florida. 2011.
Retrieved 18 May 2011.
62. Lehmann 2007b, pp. 143, 144.
63. Ananthaswamy, Anil,Microwave factory to act as carbon sink, NEW SCIENTIST, 1 October (2008)
("Retrieved on 12 December 2008) (http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn14851)
Biochar: Is the hype justified? (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7924373.stm) By Roger Harrabin -Environment analyst, (09:20 GMT, Monday, 16 March 2009) BBC News
64. Joseph, S., Graber, E.R., Chia, C., Munroe, P., Donne, S., Thomas, T., Nielsen, S., Marjo, C., Rutlidge, H.,
Pan, GX., Li, L., Taylor, P., Rawal, A., Hook, J. (2013). Shifting Paradigms on Biochar: Micro/Nano-
structures and Soluble Components are Responsible for its Plant-Growth Promoting Ability. Carbon
Management 4:323-343
65. Austin, Anna (October 2009). "A New Climate Change Mitigation Tool".Biomass Magazine (BBI
International). Retrieved 30 October 2009.
66. Blumenthal, Jeff (17 November 2009). "Wragg, Knorr ordered to halt Mantria operations". Philadelphia
Business Journal.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philadelphia_Business_Journalhttp://philadelphia.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/stories/2009/11/16/daily25.htmlhttp://www.biomassmagazine.com/article.jsp?article_id=3091&q=&page=allhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7924373.stmhttp://www.newscientist.com/article/dn14851https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Floridahttp://eponline.com/articles/2011/05/18/biochar-more-effective-cheaper-at-removing-phosphate-from-water.aspxhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stevens_Institute_of_Technologyhttp://www.solarnovus.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2859:a-cheaper-greener-material-for-supercapacitors&catid=52:applications-tech-research&Itemid=247http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/tech/2009/03/30/ansari.biochar.cnnhttps://www.agronomy.org/files/students/2010-ricigliano-entry.pdfhttps://dx.doi.org/10.1021%2Fes071361ihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_object_identifierhttp://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2008EnST...42.4152Ghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bibcodehttp://lib.dr.iastate.edu/etd/12284/http://lib.dr.iastate.edu/farms_reports/136/ -
7/26/2019 Biochar - Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia
10/11
Glaser, Bruno Lehmann, Johannes Zech, Wolfgang (2002). "Ameliorating physical and chemicalproperties of highly weathered soils in the tropics with charcoal a review".Biology and Fertilityof Soils35.
Laird, David A. (2008). "The Charcoal Vision: A WinWinWin Scenario for SimultaneouslyProducing Bioenergy, Permanently Sequestering Carbon, while Improving Soil and WaterQuality".Journal of Agronomy.
Lehmann, Johannes (2007a). "Bio-energy in the black" (PDF).Front Ecol Environ5(7). Retrieved1 October 2011.
Lehmann, Johannes (2007b). "A handful of carbon".Nature447(7141).Bibcode:2007Natur.447..143L. doi:10.1038/447143a. Retrieved 11 January 2008.
Lehmann, J. Gaunt, John Rondon, Marco et al. (2006). "Bio-char Sequestration in TerrestrialEcosystems A Review" (PDF).Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change11(2):395427. doi:10.1007/s11027-005-9006-5.
Nakka, S. B. R. (2011) "Sustainability of biochar systems in developing countries" (http://www.biochar-international.org/Sustainability_Biochar_Systems_DevelopingCountries), Published in IBIVince, Gaia (3 January 2009). "One last chance to save mankind" (2692). New Scientist.
Woolf, Dominic, James E. Amonette, F. Alayne Street-Perrott, Johannes Lehmann, and StephenJoseph. (2010). "Sustainable biochar to mitigate global climate change,"Nature Communications1(5): 1-9. Available: http://www.nature.com/ncomms/journal/v1/n5/pdf/ncomms1053.pdf.Graber, E.R. and Elad, Y. (2013) Biochar Impact on Plant Resistance to Disease. Chapter 2, InBiochar and Soil Biota, Ed. Natalia Ladygina, CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, pp. 4168Ameloot, N., Graber, E.R., Verheijen, F., De Neve, S. (2013). Effect of soil organisms on biocharstability in soil: Review and research needs. Eur. J. Soil Science, 64: 379-390Jeffery, S., Verheijen, F.G.A., van der Velde, M., Bastos, A.C. 2011. A quantitative review of the
effects of biochar application to soils on crop productivity using meta-analysis. Agriculture,Ecosystems and the Environment, v. 144: 175-187
External links
International Biochar Initiative (http://www.biochar-international.org)European Biochar Foundation and Certificate (http://www.european-biochar.org)Biochar Fund (http://www.biocharfund.org/)Biochar Research at Cornell University (http://www.css.cornell.edu/faculty/lehmann/index.html)Biochar.org (http://www.biochar.org)Biochar News (http://www.biochar.net)Biochar India (http://www.biocharindia.com)The Big Biochar Experiment (UK) (http://www.bigbiocharexperiment.co.uk)Israel Biochar Research Network (https://sites.google.com/site/ibrnisraelbiocharnetwork)Agricultural Geo-Engineering Past, Present & Future (https://www.soils.org/files/am/ecosystems/kinght.pdf)
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Biochar&oldid=716353473"
Categories: Charcoal Environmental soil science Soil improvers Wildfire ecology
This page was last modified on 21 April 2016, at 07:40.Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License additional terms
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Text_of_Creative_Commons_Attribution-ShareAlike_3.0_Unported_Licensehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Wildfire_ecologyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Soil_improvershttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Environmental_soil_sciencehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Charcoalhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Categoryhttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Biochar&oldid=716353473https://www.soils.org/files/am/ecosystems/kinght.pdfhttps://sites.google.com/site/ibrnisraelbiocharnetworkhttp://www.bigbiocharexperiment.co.uk/http://www.biocharindia.com/http://www.biochar.net/http://www.biochar.org/http://www.css.cornell.edu/faculty/lehmann/index.htmlhttp://www.biocharfund.org/http://www.european-biochar.org/http://www.biochar-international.org/http://www.nature.com/ncomms/journal/v1/n5/pdf/ncomms1053.pdfhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Scientisthttp://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20126921.500-one-last-chance-to-save-mankind.html?full=truehttp://www.biochar-international.org/Sustainability_Biochar_Systems_DevelopingCountrieshttps://dx.doi.org/10.1007%2Fs11027-005-9006-5https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_object_identifierhttp://www.garnautreview.org.au/CA25734E0016A131/WebObj/d07119990GeneralSubmission-DepartmentofAgricultureandFoodWA-Lehmann__2006_char_review/$File/d07%20119990%20General%20Submission%20-%20Department%20of%20Agriculture%20and%20Food%20WA%20%20-%20Lehmann__2006_char_review.pdfhttps://dx.doi.org/10.1038%2F447143ahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_object_identifierhttp://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2007Natur.447..143Lhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bibcodehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nature_(journal)http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v447/n7141/full/447143a.htmlhttp://www.css.cornell.edu/faculty/lehmann/publ/FrontiersEcolEnv%205,%20381-387,%202007%20Lehmann.pdfhttp://agron.scijournals.org/cgi/content/full/100/1/178 -
7/26/2019 Biochar - Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia
11/11
may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia is aregistered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.
https://www.wikimediafoundation.org/https://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Privacy_policyhttps://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Terms_of_Use