Biochar

Background

[this article is still a work in progress, a mess]

Biochar helps mitigate the greenhouse effect by 1.) replacing fossil fuels from the energy landscape and 2.) and sequestering atmospheric carbon in a stable soil carbon pool. It can improve water quality by retaining fertilizers.

soil improvement

Part of the biochar process is the sustainable co-production of clean energy and other bio-based products.

Biomass in the agricultural sector of developing countries can be utilized efficiently.

cost-effective utilization of urban, agricultural and forest co-products

Some of the world's most productive soils (e.g. US Midwest, Russian Chernozem / "black earth") are very rich in carbon. This is now recognized to be largely pyrogenic in origin, likely originating from prairie or forest fires. The black carbon is often thousands of years old, demonstrating its stability in soil. For more extensive background on Biochar, please refer to the Wikipedia entry

The Biochar Economy

(image from Flickr user visionshare by CC license)

Biochar in the OSE context

So how does Biochar fit into the OSE scope and product ecology ?

soil amelioration, degraded land, reduced need for fertilizers (e.g. manure), which is significant for the planned Permaculture Plantout at Factor e Farm.

increased biomass productivity efficient use of biomass waste for energy generation

reduced need for land = lower startup costs for a Global Village

biochar and charcoal: need charcoal anyway for other purposes, e.g. metal smelting, so might as well build a kiln

pyrolysis gas: can be used for energy, as heat source for heating greenhouses,

Lifetrac can be used to mix char into soil, till

Biochar as a source of income for an emerging community.

Charcoal for water purification and filtration.

Pyrolysis gas: source of hydrogen, CO, small amounts of methane: for various processes Bio-oil: pyrolysis oil

Specifics

pyrolysis ... at 500C

soil: up to 25% char appears to be beneficial

Please refer to the Gardening with Biochar FAQ, an excellent resource.

Links

Wikipedia entry on Biochar [1]

Gardening with Biochar FAQ [2]

BioEnergy Lists: Terra Preta (Biochar) [3]

International Biochar Initiative (IBI) [4]

Biochar Fund [5]