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what is BIOCHAR?

Biochar is a new word for an old idea: producing charcoal and adding it to the soil to make it more productive. I have a separate pinboard "Wood Gasification"…

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when the temperature gets above 350 degrees, the high-molecular-weight hydrocarbons, the resins and asphaltenes, undergo a series of cracking and condensation reactions to form solid char, similar to the petroleum coke produced in refineries. Petroleum Coke, Oil Spill, Succulents, 350 Degrees, Resins, Plants, Succulent Plants, Plant

Succulent Plants

when the temperature gets above 350 degrees, the high-molecular-weight hydrocarbons, the resins and asphaltenes, undergo a series of cracking and condensation reactions to form solid char, similar to the petroleum coke produced in refineries.

Rice University pyrolysed oil-contaminated soil to reduce total petroleum hydrocarbons below US federal standards, while leaving beneficial carbons. While this technology may not be used to grow food, they demonstrated success growing lettuce, which is recognized to be sensitive to hydrocarbon contamination. Growing Lettuce, Rice University, Medical Research, Environmental Science, Fertility, Geology, Save Energy, Federal

Growing Lettuce

Rice University

Medical Research

Environmental Science

Rice University pyrolysed oil-contaminated soil to reduce total petroleum hydrocarbons below US federal standards, while leaving beneficial carbons. While this technology may not be used to grow food, they demonstrated success growing lettuce, which is recognized to be sensitive to hydrocarbon contamination.

By making biochar from brush and other hard to compost organic material, you can improve soil — it enhances nutrient availability and also enables soil to retain nutrients longer. Garden Compost, Garden Soil, Edible Garden, Vegetable Gardening, Permaculture, Farm Gardens, Outdoor Gardens, Bokashi, Organic Gardening Tips

Vegetable Gardening

Outdoor Gardens

Organic Gardening Tips

By making biochar from brush and other hard to compost organic material, you can improve soil — it enhances nutrient availability and also enables soil to retain nutrients longer.

Dolph Cooke demonstrates biochar making for farm scale with the Moxham open barrel kiln. The "pyrolysis front" of flame consumes any unburned gases coming from the charring biomass at the bottom. Moxham, Composting, Livestock, Barrel, Scale, Weighing Scale, Barrel Roll, Barrels, Libra

Dolph Cooke demonstrates biochar making for farm scale with the Moxham open barrel kiln. The "pyrolysis front" of flame consumes any unburned gases coming from the charring biomass at the bottom.

VermaChar is a biochar product inoculated with a material called Ambrosia which is enriched worm castings. It is produced and sold in the Los Angeles area. Organic Compost, Organic Fertilizer, Sustainable Gardening, Red Worms, Worm Castings, City Farm, Worm Farm, Worm Composting

Organic Compost

Organic Fertilizer

Sustainable Gardening

Worm Composting

VermaChar is a biochar product inoculated with a material called Ambrosia which is enriched worm castings. It is produced and sold in the Los Angeles area.

From Forbes Magazine, mainstream business attention: "Cool Planet: A Company That Makes Biochar And Gasoline" Floating In Water, Investing Money, Renewable Energy, Investors, Mother Nature, Homesteading

Floating In Water

Investing Money

Renewable Energy

From Forbes Magazine, mainstream business attention: "Cool Planet: A Company That Makes Biochar And Gasoline"

Frank Strie says Tasmania needs to develop a carbon economy with biochar at the centre of the state's 'clean energy' mix. "Yes, it is a revolution but a friendly one. It's far more than just looking at biochar as a single entity. It's part of a much bigger process, and it fits into organic farming, with a clean, green and clever image and land restoration." Small Compost Bin, Mushroom Compost, Digestion Process, Top Soil, Medium Sized Dogs, Organic Matter, Grow Your Own Food, Organic Farming, Indoor Plants

Small Compost Bin

Mushroom Compost

Digestion Process

Medium Sized Dogs

Grow Your Own Food

Organic Farming

Frank Strie says Tasmania needs to develop a carbon economy with biochar at the centre of the state's 'clean energy' mix. "Yes, it is a revolution but a friendly one. It's far more than just looking at biochar as a single entity. It's part of a much bigger process, and it fits into organic farming, with a clean, green and clever image and land restoration."

From Carbon Gold: "Biochar has in turn been proven to improve the health and survival rates of living trees, keeping more of our CO2 absorbing trees alive and strong." This article describes demonstration projects with soil enhancements including biochar. Conifer Trees, Stand Strong, Maple Tree, Environmentalist, Second Best, Wildlife, Survival, Earth, Leaves

Environmentalist

From Carbon Gold: "Biochar has in turn been proven to improve the health and survival rates of living trees, keeping more of our CO2 absorbing trees alive and strong." This article describes demonstration projects with soil enhancements including biochar.

Cool Planet’s biochar production process features an extra step that tailors the biochar to best fit a particular application. As a result, field trials have shown Cool Terra can increase crop yields while reducing water and fertilizer inputs by as much as 50 percent. Planet Energy, Trials, Planets, Canning, Water, Fit, Gripe Water, Shape

Cool Planet’s biochar production process features an extra step that tailors the biochar to best fit a particular application. As a result, field trials have shown Cool Terra can increase crop yields while reducing water and fertilizer inputs by as much as 50 percent.

New England Biochar's new video on YouTube shows off their new integrated production facility including efficient use of process heat. Surprise ending! New England, Homestead, Dreams, Youtube, Youtubers, Youtube Movies

New England Biochar's new video on YouTube shows off their new integrated production facility including efficient use of process heat. Surprise ending!

Biochar quiets microbes, including some plant pathogens. In this experiment, E.Coli cultures are tested for microbes' ability to signal each other in the presence of biochar with various characteristics. The goal is to provide a simple guide to tailor production temperatures for intended uses. Nitrogen Fixation, Carbon Sequestration, Astronomy Science, March For Science, Biologist, Fungi

Nitrogen Fixation

Carbon Sequestration

Astronomy Science

March For Science

Biochar quiets microbes, including some plant pathogens. In this experiment, E.Coli cultures are tested for microbes' ability to signal each other in the presence of biochar with various characteristics. The goal is to provide a simple guide to tailor production temperatures for intended uses.

"Working on solutions to some of the world’s threatening environmental challenges and creating the world we want to live in is a thrilling opportunity. At Remineralize the Earth we are doing just that – working on research that has the potential to alleviate many of the environmental and agricultural problems humanity faces today, such as climate change, air pollution, unsustainable agriculture, and poor water quality." New Harmony, Environmental Challenges, Physical Properties, Ecology, Land Scape, Compost

Environmental Challenges

Physical Properties

"Working on solutions to some of the world’s threatening environmental challenges and creating the world we want to live in is a thrilling opportunity. At Remineralize the Earth we are doing just that – working on research that has the potential to alleviate many of the environmental and agricultural problems humanity faces today, such as climate change, air pollution, unsustainable agriculture, and poor water quality."

Kelpie Wilson writes about Baron Justus Liebig, who researched the applications of charcoal long before the age of industrial agriculture: "In the 19th century, the issues that biochar could help solve were related to health, disease, poverty, and above all, the recycling of human sewage to replenish the soil." Justus Von Liebig, Learning Resources, Science, People, Baron, Agriculture, 19th Century, Charcoal

Justus Von Liebig

Learning Resources

Kelpie Wilson writes about Baron Justus Liebig, who researched the applications of charcoal long before the age of industrial agriculture: "In the 19th century, the issues that biochar could help solve were related to health, disease, poverty, and above all, the recycling of human sewage to replenish the soil."

Arctic News: Turning forest waste into biochar Arctic, Turning, News, Wood Turning

Arctic News: Turning forest waste into biochar

Biochar used for filtration at dirty energy's Ground Zero, Alberta: "On the tailings water we can remove up to 90 per cent of the organics and that should reduce significantly the amount of greenhouse gases that are produced when those organics in the tailings ponds get chewed up by the bacteria that live in those ponds and create methane gas." Agricultural Sector, University Of Calgary, Wood Waste, Recent News, Greenhouse Gases, New Technology, Politics, Canada

Agricultural Sector

University Of Calgary

Greenhouse Gases

Biochar used for filtration at dirty energy's Ground Zero, Alberta: "On the tailings water we can remove up to 90 per cent of the organics and that should reduce significantly the amount of greenhouse gases that are produced when those organics in the tailings ponds get chewed up by the bacteria that live in those ponds and create methane gas."

A teaspoon of soil may have billions of microbes divided among 5,000 different types, thousands of species of fungi and protozoa, nematodes, mites and a couple of termite species. How these and other pieces all fit together is still largely a mystery. [..] “The greater the soil diversity, the fewer diseases that emerge in plants,” said Eric B. Nelson, who studies soil and disease ecology at Cornell. Green Monsters, Plant Drawing, Illustration, Nature Plants, Animal Species, Plant Needs, Ny Times, Biology

A teaspoon of soil may have billions of microbes divided among 5,000 different types, thousands of species of fungi and protozoa, nematodes, mites and a couple of termite species. How these and other pieces all fit together is still largely a mystery. [..] “The greater the soil diversity, the fewer diseases that emerge in plants,” said Eric B. Nelson, who studies soil and disease ecology at Cornell.

Using biochar to reduce nitrous oxide emissions: "Nitrous oxide is generated by a natural process, the denitrification, caused by bacteria which transform nitrates from the soil. So, it has always been there. Then, why is it a problem? The reason is its growing tendency: year after year, more fertilizers are applied to larger fields which has increased the amount of nitrates in the soil and, therefore, the nitrous oxide emissions." Fields, Larger, Natural, Growing Up

Using biochar to reduce nitrous oxide emissions: "Nitrous oxide is generated by a natural process, the denitrification, caused by bacteria which transform nitrates from the soil. So, it has always been there. Then, why is it a problem? The reason is its growing tendency: year after year, more fertilizers are applied to larger fields which has increased the amount of nitrates in the soil and, therefore, the nitrous oxide emissions."

Jock Gill has developed the iCan, illustrated here on his web page about Improved Biomass Cooking Stoves Cooking Stove, Household, Stoves, Wood, Outdoor Decor, Gardening, Drum, Tin Cans, Stove

Jock Gill has developed the iCan, illustrated here on his web page about Improved Biomass Cooking Stoves

The web site for CarbonChar, a western NC biochar producer, has very informative and well-illustrated pages on biochar. "A microscopic view of an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus growing on a corn root. The substance coating them is glomalin, revealed by a green dye." Organic Gardening, Gardening Tips, Humic Acid, Plant Fungus, Hydroponics

Organic Gardening

The web site for CarbonChar, a western NC biochar producer, has very informative and well-illustrated pages on biochar. "A microscopic view of an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus growing on a corn root. The substance coating them is glomalin, revealed by a green dye."

Nando gives an illustrated introduction to the construction and use of the CarbonZero Experimental Biochar Kiln. Charcoal Briquettes, Vertical Farming, Blacksmith Shop, Steel Barrel, 55 Gallon, Wood Burner, Blacksmithing, Garden Inspiration

Charcoal Briquettes

Vertical Farming

Blacksmith Shop

Garden Inspiration

Nando gives an illustrated introduction to the construction and use of the CarbonZero Experimental Biochar Kiln.

"The facility turns straw into biochar and wood tar, cleaner-burning alternatives to diesel fuel. It also produces wood vinegar out of straw -- a liquid that makes nonarable soil grow crops. The facility captures a large quantity of combustible gas from the process to meet its own energy needs and to heat a nearby hotel and a public bathroom -- a popular facility in rural China." Wood Vinegar, Clean Technology, New Energy, Public

Clean Technology

"The facility turns straw into biochar and wood tar, cleaner-burning alternatives to diesel fuel. It also produces wood vinegar out of straw -- a liquid that makes nonarable soil grow crops. The facility captures a large quantity of combustible gas from the process to meet its own energy needs and to heat a nearby hotel and a public bathroom -- a popular facility in rural China."

In some regions of China, "burning straw is a major cause of smog. The smoky air also has a pungent odor that causes coughing and other health problems. [..] Lawmakers here have tried to ban straw burning, but farmers in a hurry to clean fields for the next planting often ignore that. In 2005, after hearing about farmers in neighboring villages being jailed for burning straw, Lin Zhenheng, decided to seek a solution." Health Problems, Farmers, Climate Change, Planting, Nostalgia

Health Problems

In some regions of China, "burning straw is a major cause of smog. The smoky air also has a pungent odor that causes coughing and other health problems. [..] Lawmakers here have tried to ban straw burning, but farmers in a hurry to clean fields for the next planting often ignore that. In 2005, after hearing about farmers in neighboring villages being jailed for burning straw, Lin Zhenheng, decided to seek a solution."

"We propose the function of biochar as an “electron shuttle” that facilitates the transfer of electrons to soil denitrifying microorganisms, which together with its liming effect would promote the reduction of N2O to N2." Nitrogen Cycle, Scientific Reports, Microorganisms, Ph

Scientific Reports

"We propose the function of biochar as an “electron shuttle” that facilitates the transfer of electrons to soil denitrifying microorganisms, which together with its liming effect would promote the reduction of N2O to N2."