1. Biochar Basics: An Introduction about the What and Why of Biochar Paul S. Anderson, PhD AKA “Dr. TLUD” (TEE-lud) V.P. of Chip Energy Inc Specialist in micro-gasification psanders@ilstu.edu Slide-set modified and presented by: Hugh McLaughlin, PhD, PE Director of Biocarbon Research Alterna Biocarbon Inc. hmclaughlin@alternabiocarbon.com (Add presenter’s identification) Version 1 of these slides was presented at the 2009 Northeast Biochar Symposium, November 13 at the University of Massachusetts Amherst (Released for general distribution and use by others.)

2. Biochar Defined: The placement of charcoal into soils. The presence of nearly pure carbon in soils, in the form of amorphous graphite. NOT carbon that is in living organisms. NOT fossil carbon, as in coal, oil, or natural gas.

3. His ancestors accomplished soil improvements that modern science is trying to understand and replicate.

4. Latosol vs. Terra Preta (Dark Earth) Terra preta is excellent soil with high presence of charcoal (biochar).

5. Terra preta might be from “slash and char” practices, but NOT from current “slash-and-burn” agricultural practices.

6. Was biomass; now has charcoal-like properties. Significant carbon content, but more than just carbon that has been sequestered: Internal surface area and adsorption properties. CEC = cation exchange capacity, better fertilizer retention and less field runoff. Significant synergisms with soil microbes over time – nitrogen fixers and other good “bugs.” Summary of Biochar Properties

7. Half-life of biochar is ~1400 years.

8. Conclusion # 1: There is something about abundant charcoal in soils that can be highly beneficial to plants. The benefits last for at least hundreds of years. Biochar has potential for improving soils and feeding people, especially where soils are weak. ONLY possible with charcoal: –NOT by putting coal dust into soils. –NOT by adding manure or other organic material.

9. Basic Forms and Transformations of Carbon: Elemental Carbon C (solid) Activated charcoal Regular charcoal Graphite Carbon black (soot) Coke (from coal) Oxide gases C + O CO & CO 2 Hydrocarbons C + H Coal, oil, gases Biomolecules C + H + O Carbohydrates, Sugars, Cellulose, Lignin, & much more in living and dead biomass.

10. Basic Forms and Transformations of Carbon: Elemental Carbon C (solid) Activated charcoal Regular charcoal Graphite Carbon black (soot) Coke (from coal) Oxide gases C + O CO & CO 2 Hydrocarbons C + H Coal, oil, gases Add H 2 O and photosynthesis by plants Add Oxygen: Gasification & combustion Loose Oxygen: Become fossil fuels Carbonization / Pyrolysis: Create charcoal & liberate gases Biomolecules C + H + O Carbohydrates, Sugars, Cellulose, Lignin, & much more in living and dead biomass. Add Oxygen: Decay

11. From: http://www.techtp.com/Torrefaction%20for%20High%20Quality%20Wood%20Pellets.pdf, page 7 of 36

12. How does wood burn? Wood, consists of hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin –Hemicellulose gasifies at 250 – 300C –Cellulose splits into char and volatiles between 300C and 450C –Lignin splits into char and volatiles between 300C and 750C –Volatilization cools the remaining solid, but the gases burn and generate radiant heat (yellow to blue light) –Eventually, oxygen can react with the remaining char to make CO2, H2O and ash, plus more heat (red light) Putting it all together, we can summarize this in the next two slides that are easier to understand:

13. Pyrolysis & Carbonization Reactions of Wood Below 288 C = Torrefied Wood Above 325 C = Biochar

14. The combustion flame (“C”) burns gases and provides heat to sustain pyrolysis (“P”). Ash is held in the charcoal until “G” (char-gasification) releases it. When “C” goes out, visible smoke shows condensing gases. A match shows the simple production of charcoal

15. the first synthetic material produced by man. used to draw on the walls of caves, and used to transport fire (embers) to new locations. later used for smelting tin to make bronze tools. easier to do than any of the coal – oil – gas options: –Converting wood to charcoal is done by heating in an atmosphere of limited oxygen. –Known as “Pryolysis” or “Carbonization”, we do it every time we make a fire with wood. –And Mother Nature’s forest fires predate Smoky the Bear …… Making charcoal

16. 57% of carbon 33% of carbon 0% + 6% + 4% of carbon (35 wt %) (40 wt %) (25 wt %) Charcoal retains ~ 20% of the weight and 30% of the energy of the biomass, so ~70% of the energy is released as usable vapors. Created by photosynthesis using solar energy + CO 2 + H 2 O Chemical changes as wood becomes biochar:

17. MODIFIED ULIMATE ANALYSES OF CHARS Source: McLaughlin, Anderson, Shields & Reed (2009). All Biochars Are Not Created Equal…terrapreta.bioenergylists.org

18. Conclusion # 2: Charcoal is made by the thermal transformation of biological matter, mainly carbohydrates. Plant biomass seems to create the best biochar – both woods and grasses. All biochars are not equal – both starting biomass and carbonization conditions influence the final biochar properties.

19. Basic Forms and Transformations of Carbon: Elemental Carbon C (solid) Activated charcoal Regular charcoal Graphite Carbon black (soot) Coke (from coal) Oxide gases C + O CO & CO 2 Hydrocarbons C + H Coal, oil, gases Add H 2 O and photosynthesis by plants Add Oxygen: Gasification & combustion Loose Oxygen: Become fossil fuels Carbonization / Pyrolysis: Create charcoal & liberate gases Biomolecules C + H + O Carbohydrates, Sugars, Cellulose, Lignin, & much more in living and dead biomass. Add Oxygen: Decay

20. Timelines for Carbon Transformations & Permanence CO 2 Biomass (living and dead) Natural short-term cycle of growth and decay (including biomass burning) is Carbon Neutral: C= Fossil Fuels Biocarbon Biochar in Soils Hundreds or thousands of years as long-term carbon sequestration: C- 100 million years ( C- ) 100 minutes ( C- ) Optional human activity, creating Terra Preta Burn it. 200+ years of fossil fuel consumption is Carbon Positive: C+ Storing carbon is Carbon Negative: C-

21. Timelines for Carbon Transformations & Permanence CO 2 Biomass (living and dead) Natural short-term cycle of growth and decay (including biomass burning) is Carbon Neutral: C= Fossil Fuels Biocarbon Biochar in Soils Hundreds or thousands of years as long-term carbon sequestration: 100 million years ( C- ) 100 minutes ( C- ) Optional human activity, creating Terra Preta!!! Burn it. 200+ years of fossil fuel consumption is Carbon Positive: C+ in enormous proportions!!! Storing carbon is Carbon Negative: C- C-

22. Ice age 285 in 1950

24. > 380 in 2010 < 300 in 1950 Most recent Ice Age Shows ONLY 400,000 years. “Civilization” is less than 10,000 years old.

25. Global Temperature and Atmospheric CO2 over Geologic Time Late Carboniferous to Early Permian time (315 mya -- 270 mya) is the only time period in the last 600 million years when both atmospheric CO2 and temperatures were as low as they are today (Quaternary Period ). Temperature after C.R. Scotese http://www.scotese.com/climate.htm CO2 after R.A. Berner, 2001 (GEOCARB III) Source: http://www.geocraft.com/WVFossils/Carboniferous_climate.html Today

26. Conclusion # 3: Global warming can be debated, but the increase in atmospheric CO 2 levels is clearly measured and due to human activities. The Earth is very capable of existing with much higher CO 2 levels, but our current human society probably could not. The only current reasonable method for human action to remove significant amounts of atmospheric CO 2 is through biochar for carbon sequestration. And Conclusion # 1 states that Biochar is being shown to improve poor soils, so put char into soils!

27. Potential Sources of Biochar Chart of Potential Sources of Biochar Source: McLaughlin, Anderson, Shields & Reed (2009). All Biochars Are Not Created Equal…terrapreta.bioenergylists.org Type => Issue IncidentalTraditionalGasifierOther Modern Industrial Processes Applica- tion Fire Residual Lump Charcoal Biomass to Energy By or Co- product Sole product Description (Highly general- ized) Fireplace Forest fire Incineration Primitive kilns Modern kilns Downdraft Updraft Top-Lit UpDraft (TLUD) Traditional retort Specialized retort Fast Pyrolysis Biocarbon for energy Biochar for soil Bio-Gas & Bio-Oil Oxygen?Oxic - UncontrolledOxic = limited oxygen and Anoxic = no oxygen OxicAnoxic (usually)Anoxic and Oxic Commercial for biochar? No. Basically destructive. Yes. Established product – for cooking Biochar is NOT the primary objective. Initial efforts & biochar is NOT the primary goal Initial efforts

28. End of the Beginning about Biochar Basics Further discussions can cover issues of: –Production of biochar, including cook stoves. –Application of biochar. –Impact of biochar on plants and soil microbes. Or is this the Beginning of the End? With the rising CO 2 level, living conditions of most of humanity will be affected, and current cultural structure and political stability are unlikely to continue for another 100 years. Issues of atmospheric CO 2 concentrations will not be resolved without conscious and significant actions by all the fuel-intense nations of the World – and actions on the ground everywhere.