According to Wikipedia, Biochar is “charcoal created by pyrolysis of biomass. The resulting charcoal-like material can be used as a soil improver to create terra preta and is a form of carbon capture and storage. Charcoal is a stable solid and rich in carbon content, and thus, can be used to lock carbon in the soil. Biochar is of increasing interest because of concerns about mitigation of global warming being caused by emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.”

This sounds like another great idea for controlling our carbon emissions problem, along with algae in the ocean which I posted about last month. I don’t believe that any singular solution is going to appear and that our eventual plan will include many different ideas and technologies. I do think that Biochar has a part to play. In particular, it has great possibilities in the area of reducing the global impact of farming and the piling up of agri-waste. Yes, there is a great deal of agricultural waste because any process that turns raw materials into products generates residuals that are discarded. Without a viable use for these residuals, we end up with piles and piles of waste materials… ie, the landfill.

Photo: BioChar.net

There are also other processes that involve using actual agricultural waste for productive and restorative means. One is to use the waste as a means to absorb and alleviate oil spills on land. Also, much of our commercial waste materials generate what has been documented as “antioxidant” and “chemoprotective”. Before this waste is destroyed it should be first tested for antioxidant activity. According to the University of Illinois SROP Abstracts, samples from the waste product can be tested for antioxidant activity by use of a novel microplate ferric thiocyanate antioxidant assay. The assay determines if the sample protects linoleic acid, a compound commonly found in cell membranes, from oxidation. If this antioxidant activity is found, the sample is then tested on Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells to determine if the sample shows biological activity. The sample will then be analyzed to discover the mechanism by which chemoprotection occurs. So far their studies have found that asample called fer jui polyph has been shown to possess strong antioxidant activity. You can read more on their study program HERE . And this type of study should continue before decisions are made about the future use of Biochar. In fact, I think if they can perfect this test, then it should be performed on an agricultural waste that is discarded before this waste is subjected to Biochar for carbon trapping. This sort of process might be ideal.

Now, in the manner of being informative, I thought I should investigate what exactly constitutes agri waste. According to UNEP ,
“agricultural waste consists of things like pesticide waste, discarded pesticide containers, plastics such as silage wrap, bags and sheets, packaging waste, old machinery, oil and waste veterinary medicines. Manufacturing waste, as you would expect from the vast range of products produced and processes involved, is a very diverse group. The waste generated depends on the technology used, the nature of the raw material processed and how much of it is discarded at the end of the chain. Very often manufacturing wastes end up in the hazardous category.”

According to this same site, “mountains of obsolete pesticides are stockpiled in Africa. Problems with labeling, storage, and the supply of unsuitable products, means that they sit around unused, some for as long as 40 years. They include poisons long ago banned (e.g. DDT, aldrin, dieldrin, chlordane, heptachlor, and others). In some cases the pesticides have leaked from damaged containers. Unable to dispose of them safely the likelihood is that the piles will continue to grow.” This makes me think that doing something about agri waste is imperative and that it is very dangerous not to do something about it. This is why I think these methods of making use of this waste in an environmentally positive way are exciting prospects that should be explored immediately. According to Cornell University, they have been doing work using these waste materials to absorb oil spills on land.

According to the study abstract at VIVO (Cornell University Library), they “have been interested in the properties of lignocellulosic materials for the uptake and removal of oils.” In the study they have also “screened a wide variety of materials and have found that two materials, manure and barks, are inexpensive and highly effective.” This is a great idea, conservative, inexpensive and pro active. I applaud this kind of work because whether you believe in global warming or not, you cannot deny that our waste products are a problem on the surface of this planet and any good use we can make of them is both fiscally responsible and environmentally wise. I mean, who wants a backyard full of old garbage? That’s where we’re going to end up if we don’t figure it out soon

Also, according to Cornell, they “have developed procedures for the treatment and handling of manures and have developed products that are 7 times more effective, and easier to handle, than the clay-based kitty litter type materials.” In their efforts they were also responsible enough to “have created a company and have begun to produce and sell this loose bagged material. At the same time, with partial funding from CAT, we have developed alternatives to melt-blown polypropylene. Melt-blown is formed into mats that are the standards for high end removal of oils from surfaces and a primary method of removal of oils from water. We can produce pads that are equally effective as melt-blown but that are made primarily (70 percent or more) from bark or manure. These are expected to provide a useful alternative to nonrenewable clay or melt-blown products and to generate a sizable market for local manure producers, especially dairies. The anticipated need by the company, Terrenew, for the next year is about 800 tons of locally produced manure, with sizable growth in later years. This solves and environmental problem and creates local jobs.” To this, folks, I say BRAVO! Great minds.

All of this activity going on in various sectors where energetic minds are fast finding the solutions to the problems the rest of us create. That’s nothing to feel guilty about, just by the fact that we exist we must consume. But we have to be responsible about the waste we generate. Which brings me back to Biochar and the idea of absorbing carbon with waste materials. Again, according to Wikipedia, “Biochar may be an immediate solution to reducing the global impact of farming (and in reducing the impact from all agricultural waste). The burning and natural decomposition of trees and agricultural matter contributes a large amount of CO2 released to the atmosphere. Biochar can store this carbon in the ground, potentially making a significant reduction in atmospheric GHG 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.” Being a big champion of old growth forests, this idea really sounds good to me. I mean, who in heck will this hurt? It can only do good from my sights.

According to all the scientific sources I have scoured, Biochar can sequester carbon in the soil for hundreds to thousands of years. Combined with the use of ocean algae, we could lock up an awful lot of carbon for a very long period of time, keeping people and our planet clean and safe. Did you know that Columbian Amazonian natives used it to enhance soil productivity and made it by smoldering agricultural waste? European settlers called it Terra Preta de Indio. Its modern equivalent is being developed using pyrolysis to heat biomass in the absence of oxygen in kilns. And you do realize that this is charcoal we are talking about don’t you? Another simple solution that will slip right by if we don’t act. Another gift from God that sits right under our noses. Cheap and easy. There should be no political fighting about this sort of thing. It just makes common sense.

Also, according again to Wikipedia, “modern biochar production can be combined with biofuel production in a process that is energy-positive(exothermic)—producing 3-9 times more energy than invested and is also carbon-negative—withdrawing CO2 from the atmosphere and rebuilding geological carbon sinks.” Wow. I am very impressed. And looking further, I also find that “Biochar is a high-carbon, fine-grained residue which can be produced either by smoldering biomass, utilizing centuries-old techniques (i.e., covering burning biomass with soil and letting it smolder) or through modern pyrolysis processes. (Pyrolysis is the direct thermal decomposition of biomass in the absence of oxygen to obtain an array of solid (biochar), liquid (bio-oil) and gas (syngas) products.)

So, it seems that this idea is a great one. But it is not without certain questions and concerns. According to some science sites I have also seen, there are issues that must be addressed before they adapt Biochar on a worldwide scale. Here are some questions I found around the web. Feel free to add your own in the comments section below.

1. Do soils have a “saturation” point? This would be that point where the soil can’t hold another drop.

2. Is this economically feasible on a large scale? It is generally asserted that the production of Biochar will require the simultaneous production of energy and/or heat or it will be way too expensive.

3. Charcoal is already used by most of the developing world as a heat and cooking source and if it comes under demand for Biochar this could price it out of the grasp of these poorer countries. How can we cap the cost of Biochar without reducing profits too much for those who would produce it?

4. Is there other uses for the Biochar? If there is a soil saturation point and there is an exess of Biochar, we could face a future of ‘carbon landfills,’ and first must consider what else can be done with the remaining char. Perhaps it can be used for water filtration, or conversion to activated charcoal/graphite? Do you have any ideas?

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