BIOCHAR

BY
K.PRAVEEN
2014017023
 BIOCHAR
• “Biochar is a fine-grained charcoal high in
organic carbon and largely resistant to
decomposition. It is produced from pyrolysis of
plant and waste feedstocks.
• It is obtained when biomass is heated in a
closed container , produced by thermal
decomposition of organic material under limited
supply of oxygen and at relatively less than 700
˚c.
 BIOCHAR-PRODUCTION
Major Techniques:
• Slow Pyrolysis traditional (dirty, low char yields) and
modern (clean, high char yields)
• Flash Pyrolysis modern, high pressure, higher char
yields
• Fast Pyrolysis modern, maximizes bio-oil production,
low char yields
• Hydrothermal Carbonization under development, wet
feedstock, high pressure, highest “char” yield but quite
different composition and probably not as recalcitrant
as pyrolytic carbons
 APPLICATIONS OF BIOCHAR
• Carbon sink
• Soil amendment
• Slash and Char
• Water Retention
 Carbon sink
• Biochar 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.
• Biochar can sequester carbon in the soil for hundreds
to thousands of years, like coal.Such a carbon-negative
technology would lead to a net withdrawal of CO2
from the atmosphere, while producing and consuming
energy
  
Soil amendment
• Biochar is recognised as offering a number of benefits for
soil health.  
• Biochar can improve water quality, reduce soil emissions of
greenhouse gases, reduce nutrient leaching, reduce soil
acidity, and reduce irrigation and fertilizer requirements.
• 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 soil
borne pathogens.
• 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.
 
• Studies have reported positive effects from biochar on crop
production in degraded and nutrient–poor soils.
• Biochar reduces leaching of critical nutrients, creates a
higher crop uptake of nutrients, and provides greater soil
availability of nutrients.
• 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.
• 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.
 slash-and-char
• Switching from slash-and-burn to slash-and-char farming
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. Slash-and-char can keep up to
50% of the carbon in a highly stable form.
• 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.[51] Additionally, by
improving the soil's ability to be tilled, fertility, and
productivity, biochar–enhanced soils can indefinitely
sustain agricultural production.
 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.
• As a result, nutrients, phosphorus, and
agrochemicals are retained for the plants benefit.
Plants therefore, are healthier and fertilizers
leach less into surface or groundwater.
 
 Energy production
• 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. 
• 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