AcrisolAcrisol

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typical Amazon soiltypical Amazon soilInfertile clayInfertile clay

CharcoalCharcoal==

Terra PretaTerra Preta

?CharcoalCharcoalBiocharBiocharAcrisolAcrisol

BiocharBiocharScientific Advisory CommitteeScientific Advisory Committee

International Biochar InitiativeInternational Biochar Initiative

BiocharBiochar is fine-grained charcoal high in organic carbon, is fine-grained charcoal high in organic carbon, largely resistant to decomposition,largely resistant to decomposition,produced from pyrolysis of plant and waste feedstocks. produced from pyrolysis of plant and waste feedstocks.

As soil amendment, As soil amendment, biocharbiochar creates a recalcitrant carbon pool creates a recalcitrant carbon pool that is carbon-negativethat is carbon-negative – – net withdrawal of atmospheric carbon.net withdrawal of atmospheric carbon.

Enhanced nutrient retention capacity of biochar-amended soil Enhanced nutrient retention capacity of biochar-amended soil reduces total fertilizer requirements, reduces total fertilizer requirements, also climate and environmental impact of croplands.also climate and environmental impact of croplands.

BiocharBiochar

Climate ChangeClimate ChangeConfrontingConfronting

Biochar is a special charcoal, Biochar is a special charcoal, made from select biomass,made from select biomass,

prepared for special purpose:prepared for special purpose:to put in soil to grow foodto put in soil to grow food

Biochar is an ancient methodBiochar is an ancient methodto smolder dry biomass to smolder dry biomass

in a low Oxygen environmentin a low Oxygen environment

This controlled combustionThis controlled combustiontechnology is based ontechnology is based on

gasification and pyrolysisgasification and pyrolysisSlow pyrolysis heats biomass Slow pyrolysis heats biomass

to 500 to 700°Cto 500 to 700°C

Carbon burns hottest, Carbon burns hottest, and thus burns last,and thus burns last,

− − the residue of combustionthe residue of combustionwithout sufficient Oxygenwithout sufficient Oxygen

carbon-rich substance carbon-rich substance with similar properties with similar properties to activated charcoalto activated charcoal

The yield is a blackThe yield is a black

Biochar PropertiesBiochar Properties

Hans-Peter Schmitt at Ithaka Institut in Switzerland describes Hans-Peter Schmitt at Ithaka Institut in Switzerland describes ““55 uses for biochar55 uses for biochar” in great detail, including cascading ” in great detail, including cascading processes that sequence the same batch in an array of uses. processes that sequence the same batch in an array of uses.

Hans-Peter points to biochar’s digestive qualities, noting the Hans-Peter points to biochar’s digestive qualities, noting the Zanzibar Red Colobus monkey eats char daily to detox phenols Zanzibar Red Colobus monkey eats char daily to detox phenols in its leafy diet. We spend $20 billion per year in its leafy diet. We spend $20 billion per year pharmaceuticals. A tiny bit of biochar added to animal feed can pharmaceuticals. A tiny bit of biochar added to animal feed can cut Germany’s GHG emissions nearly 1%, not including cut Germany’s GHG emissions nearly 1%, not including methane. methane.

Hans-Peter has a charred wool product that’s a slow release Hans-Peter has a charred wool product that’s a slow release fertilizer stick containing 8% nitrogen. fertilizer stick containing 8% nitrogen.

He described… He described… •biochar textiles that serve as deodorizersbiochar textiles that serve as deodorizers•plasters that absorb mycotoxins (like black mold spores)plasters that absorb mycotoxins (like black mold spores)•lightweight biochar brickslightweight biochar bricks•a refrigerator house in Kenyaa refrigerator house in Kenya•biochar pillows & mattresses to soak up toxins from your skinbiochar pillows & mattresses to soak up toxins from your skin•dampening of ambient electromagnetic pollutiondampening of ambient electromagnetic pollution•graphite-quality biochar for semiconductors, batteries & nanotubesgraphite-quality biochar for semiconductors, batteries & nanotubes

Uses of BiocharUses of BiocharBiochar PropertiesBiochar Properties