Smokeless biomass pyrolysis for producing biofuels and biochar as a possible arsenal to control climate change

Abstract

Smokeless (emission-free, clean, and efficient) biomass pyrolysis for biochar and biofuel production is a possible arsenal for global carbon capture and sequestration at gigatons of carbon (GtC) scales. The worlds annual unused waste biomass, such as crop stovers, is about 3.3 GtC y1. If this amount of biomass (3.3 GtC y1) is processed through the smokeless pyrolysis approach, it could produce biochar (1.65 GtC y1) and biofuels (with heating value equivalent to 3,250 million barrels of crude oil) to help control global warming and achieve energy independence from fossil fuel. By using 1.65 GtC y1 of biochar into soil and/or underground reservoirs alone, it would offset the 8.5 GtC y1 of fossil fuel CO2 emissions by 19%. The worldwide maximum capacity for storing biochar carbon into agricultural soils is estimated to be about 428 GtC. It may be also possible to provide a global carbon thermostat mechanism by creating biochar carbon energy storage reserves. This biomass-pyrolysis carbon-negative energy approach merits serious research and development worldwide to help provide clean energy and control climate change for a sustainable future of human civilization on Earth.