BIOCHAR, BIOCHAR, To the rescue! To the rescue!

By Amanda SchafferBy Amanda Schaffer

What is What is biocharbiochar??

BiocharBiochar is a highly is a highly porous charcoal made porous charcoal made from organic wastefrom organic waste

Can be any forest, Can be any forest, agricultural, or animal agricultural, or animal wastewaste

Examples:Examples: WoodchipsWoodchips Corn husksCorn husks Peanut shellsPeanut shells Chicken manureChicken manure

How it’s madeHow it’s made

Waste called “biomass” is put into an Waste called “biomass” is put into an octagonal shaped metal barreloctagonal shaped metal barrel

It’s then cooked at 1000It’s then cooked at 1000ooFF This process of cooking the biomass is a This process of cooking the biomass is a

thermochemical process called pyrolysis.thermochemical process called pyrolysis. After a few hours, the organic waste is After a few hours, the organic waste is

transformed into charcoal-like pellets that transformed into charcoal-like pellets that farmers turn into fertilizerfarmers turn into fertilizer

More about BiocharMore about Biochar

It’s high carbon content and porous It’s high carbon content and porous nature can help soil retain water, nature can help soil retain water, nutrients, protect soil microbes.nutrients, protect soil microbes.

It can increase crop yields while acting as It can increase crop yields while acting as a a natural carbon sinknatural carbon sink - keeping carbon - keeping carbon in the groundin the ground

Many scientists view that biochar is Many scientists view that biochar is considered the considered the black goldblack gold of agriculture of agriculture

Cleaning the AirCleaning the Air

BiocharBiochar can clean the air in two ways can clean the air in two ways Preventing rotting biomass from releasing Preventing rotting biomass from releasing

harmful COharmful CO2 2 into the atmosphereinto the atmosphere

Allowing plants to store the COAllowing plants to store the CO2 2 that they pull that they pull

from the air via photosynthesisfrom the air via photosynthesis

What could happenWhat could happen

If If biocharbiochar was used worldwide, CO was used worldwide, CO22 levels levels

could drop 8 parts per million within 50 yearscould drop 8 parts per million within 50 years COCO22 levels in the air have been increasing at levels in the air have been increasing at

an alarming rate since the 1980’s.an alarming rate since the 1980’s. Since 2000, carbon has been increasing 2 Since 2000, carbon has been increasing 2

parts per millionparts per million During the 1980’s carbon amounts were During the 1980’s carbon amounts were

increasing at 1.5 ppm per year.increasing at 1.5 ppm per year.

Other uses for Other uses for biocharbiochar

Gases given off during the process of Gases given off during the process of creating biochar can be:creating biochar can be: Converted into electricityConverted into electricity Condensed and converted into gasolineCondensed and converted into gasoline Used in some pharmaceutical applications Used in some pharmaceutical applications

for the by-productsfor the by-products

Is it possible?Is it possible?

QuestionsQuestions

References:References: http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/science/03/30/biochar.warming.ehttp://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/science/03/30/biochar.warming.e

nergy/nergy/ http://www.charyproduce.com/images/site/full/sweet%20corn1.jpghttp://www.charyproduce.com/images/site/full/sweet%20corn1.jpg http://oxfordinspires.org/Programmes/images/earth-planet.jpghttp://oxfordinspires.org/Programmes/images/earth-planet.jpg