Biochar Technology for Environmental Sustainability

Abstract

Biochar has been indicated as an amendment to degrade soils, improve carbon sequestration and increase agronomic productivity and future carbon trading markets. Intensive research has confirmed that biochar is part of the carbon with variable properties due to the result of production, e.g. feedstock and pyrolysis conditions and other factors like storage and transportation. Agronomic benefits from biochar additions to degrade soils have been emphasized. Soils are complex mixtures of solids, liquids, gases and living organisms, and adding biochar can change their physical, chemical and biological properties in several different ways. The research started to show which soil and biochar properties are responsible for these changes and to use them to improve crop growth and soil amendment or for environmental management. People are hopeful about the positive agronomic effects from potential biochar usage on climate impacts, but there is a lot still to be done. Biochar can be produced at scales ranging from individual farm to large industrial level making it appropriate to a variety of socioeconomic situations. Various pyrolysis technologies are commercially available that yield different proportions of biochar and bioenergy products. The bio-oil produced may be used directly for low-grade heating applications and as a diesel substitute after suitable treatment. Pyrolysis processes consist of two major types, fast and slow, which refer to the speed at which the biomass is altered. Fast pyrolysis, with biomass residence times of a few seconds, generates more bio-oil and less biochar than slow pyrolysis. Slow process for which biomass residence time can range from hours to days. Also biochar produced from wood shavings is likely to be different from a biochar produced from dairy cow manure. The application of biochar on a worldwide basis has been undertaken to clearly understand ramifications in adapting the biochar technology. The challenges that are unique to regions in terms of physical, economic and chemical natures are taken up to devise future plans for this fascinating innovation in soil amendment and climate mitigation. Many organizations have accepted the responsibility to change the way carbon sequestration is realized.