Oxygenation of biochar for enhanced cation exchange capacity

Abstract

This chapter reports a technological concept for producing a partially oxygenated biochar material that possesses enhanced cation-exchanging property by reaction of a biochar source with one or more oxygenating compounds in such a manner that the biochar material homogeneously acquires oxygen-containing cation-exchanging groups. This concept is based on our recent experimental finding that the O:C atomic ratio in biochar material correlates with its cation-exchange capacity. The technology is directed at biochar compositions and soil formulations containing the partially oxygenated biochar materials for soil amendment and carbon sequestration.