Using Biochar vs cost:

Biochar – that black charcoal like substance discussed so often in recent days for its miraculous effects on soil and compost - is good for more than just your garden. One of the key materials for a sustainable future of the planet, biochar has many other uses that can be integrated into new organic systems for farming, building, clothing, electronics and a whole range of consumer products. Biochar can initiate multiple cascades to optimize and recycle current material, nutrient and energy flows.

It turns out that the stable carbon matrix that biochar is made of has all kinds of interesting properties. This carbon matrix can hold on to things – water, air, metals and organic chemicals. And it also has unique thermal and electrical properties that are still being explored. Finally, the highly porous physical structure of biochar provides habitat for microorganisms. With so many different properties, biochar is bound to have a lot of different uses, but one function that all biochar applications (other than burning it for fuel) share is carbon sequestration. By fixing easily degradable plant carbon into long-lasting charcoal, carbon dioxide is slowly but surely removed from the atmosphere.

The biggest drawback to the application of biochar in soil is the cost. Making biochar is either a technical highly elaborate and capital-intensive process or a low-tech, slow and labor-intensive process; both paths are rather expensive. Adverage prices of biochar $1000 a ton, the $5,000 to amend an acre of cropland with 5 tons of biochar would in most cases exceed the return from that acre.

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Does it really make sense to work biochar into fields?

These economic considerations are not so different from what the natives in the Amazon had to face when they used biochar to improve their soils, and where you will still find plenty of places with over 40 tons of biochar buried into just one acre of soil. Even if no money existed back in those days, it would have made no economic sense to cut down some 80 huge rainforest trees and then use ancient charcoal kilns to make some 40 tons of biochar – just to bury the biochar into one acre of soil. And don’t forget: all this would have been done without any chainsaws or axes and no animals to pull the logs close to the field
The idea of applying dozens of tons of biochar to fields can only come from scholars who, on the basis of the Terra Preta example, have arrived at a false conclusion completely without any practical relevance – i.e. the massive one-time application of biochar.

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Example of Terra Preta Cultures:

The char used back then was probably created in the typical hearths of the natives, in which not just ash but also relatively large amounts of charcoal were produced at relatively low heat. This char, basically a waste product, was then apparently used as a way of preventing infectious diseases. This was done by regularly adding char to feces and kitchen waste in the large jungle settlements, thus sterilizing them. It helps to understand that the indigenous settlements were concentrated along the river branches on high bluffs safe from flooding. That is where the people lived, in densely populated villages, and where most of the Terra Preta is found.

Once the organic waste had been stabilized through composting or fermenting it with added char, people discovered that it was an excellent substrate for growing food plants. These methods led to the char being loaded with nutrients and its surfaces achieving greater binding capability through oxidization, with the consequence that, once worked into the soil, the char was able to fully unfold its function as a nutrient store and humus stabilizer (through the creation of char-clay-humus complexes).
 

The many uses of biochar:

Biochar is much too valuable for it to be just added to soil without using it at least once for other beneficial purposes. Basic uses include: drinking water filtration,  sanitation of human and kitchen wastes, and as a composting agent. All of these uses have been documented in many different pre-industrial cultures. In the modern world, the uses multiply: adsorber in functional clothing, insulation in the building industry, as carbon electrodes in super-capacitors for energy storage, food packaging, waste water treatment, air cleaning, silage agent or feed supplement. All those uses could be part of more complex cascades when, after extended up- and down cycling, biochar can be used in a farmer’s manure slurry pit or in a sewage treatment plant, before being composted and thus finally becoming a soil amendment. Biochar should only be worked into the soil at the end of such “cascades,” keeping in mind that some biochar uses – for cleaning up metal or chemical contamination – would render the biochar unsuitable for agricultural soils and need different recycling pathways.

In fact it has only just been started. We will initially just comment shortly on a few applications in this list. 

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The use of biochar for animal treatment and farming:

Silage agent, Feed additive / supplement and Litter additive for the Slurry treatments of Manure composting and Water treatment in fish farming.

At present some 90% of the biochar used in Europe goes into animal farming. Different to its application to fields, a farmer will notice its effects within a few days. Whether used in feeding, litter or in slurry treatment, a farmer will quickly notice less smell. Used as a feed supplement, the incidence of diarrhea rapidly decreases, feed intake is improved, allergies disappear, and the animals become calmer.  In Germany, researchers conducted a controlled experiment in a dairy that was experiencing a number of common health problems: reduced performance, movement disorder, fertility disorders, inflammation of the urinary bladder, viscous salivas, and diarrhea. Animals were fed different combinations of charcoal, sauerkraut juice or humic acids over periods of 4 to 6 weeks.  Experimenters found that oral application of charcoal (from 200 to 400 g/day), sauerkraut juice and humic acids influenced the antibody levels to C. botulinum, indicating reduced gastrointestinal neurotoxin burden. They found that when the feed supplements were ended, antibody levels increased, indicating that regular feeding of charcoal and other supplements had a tonic effect on cow health

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Biochar as a soil conditioner:

Carbon fertilizer, Compost additive, Substitute for the peat in potting soil, Plant protection, Compensatory fertilizer for trace elements

In certain poor soils (mainly in the tropics), positive effects on soil fertility were seen when applying untreated biochar. These include the higher capacity of the soil to store water, aeration of the soil and the release of nutrients through raising the soil’s pH-value. In temperate climates, soils tend to have humus content of over 1.5%, meaning that such effects only play a secondary role. Indeed, fresh biochar may adsorb nutrients in the soil, causing  – at least in the short and medium term – a negative effect on plant growth. These are the reasons why in temperate climates biochar should only be used when first loaded with nutrients and when the char surfaces have been activated through microbial oxidation. The best method of loading nutrients is to co-compost the char. This involves adding 10–30% biochar (by volume) to the biomass to be composted. Co-composting improves both the biochar and the compost. The resulting compost can be used as a highly efficient substitute for peat in potting soil, greenhouses, nurseries and other special cultures.

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Carbon based fertilizers:

Because biochar serves as a carrier for plant nutrients, you can produce organic carbon-based fertilizers by mixing biochar with such organic waste as wool, molasses, ash, slurry.

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Conventional feterilizers:

The least efficient are conventional fertilizers, they have the dis-advantage of not having the well-known adverse effects on the ecosystem. Such fertilizers leach there nutrients. 

Organic chemicals:
A range of organic chemicals are produced during pyrolysis. Some of these remain stuck to the pores and surfaces of the biochar and may have a role in stimulating a plant’s internal immune system, thereby increasing its resistance to pathogens. The effect on plant defense mechanisms was mainly observed when using low temperature biochars (pyrolysed at 350° to 450°C). This potential use is, however, only just now being developed and still requires a lot of research effort.

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Use biochar in the building sector:

Insulation of, air-decontamination and decontamination of the earth foundations and protection against electromagnetic radiation electrosmog.

Two of biochar’s properties are its extremely low thermal conductivity and its ability to absorb water up to 6 times its weight. These properties mean that biochar is just the right material for insulating buildings and regulating humidity. In combination with clay, but also with lime and cement mortar, biochar can be added to clay at a ratio of up to 50% and replace sand in lime and cement mortars. This creates indoor plasters with excellent insulation and breathing properties, able to maintain humidity levels in a room at 45–70% in both summer and winter. This in turn prevents not just dry air, which can lead to respiratory disorders and allergies, but also dampness and air condensing on the walls, which can lead to mold developing. You can read about the Ithaka Institute’s. Biochar-mud plaster adsorbs smells and toxins, a property not just benefiting smokers. Biochar-mud plasters can improve working conditions in libraries, schools, warehouses, factories and agricultural buildings.

Biochar is an efficient adsorber of electromagnetic radiation, meaning that biochar-mud plaster can prevent “electrosmog”

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How to have a healthy indoor climate:
Biochar can also be applied to the outside walls of a building by jet-spray technique mixing it with lime. Applied at thicknesses of up to 20 cm, it is a substitute for Styrofoam insulation. Houses insulated this way become carbon sinks, while at the same time having a more healthy indoor climate. Should such a house be demolished at a later date, the biochar-mud or biochar-lime plaster can be recycled as a valuable compost additive.

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Decontamination of ponds from pesticides:

Soil additive for soil remediation – for use in particular on former mine-works, military bases and landfill sites.

Soil substrates – Highly adsorbing, plantable soil substrates for use in cleaning wastewater; in particular urban wastewater contaminated by heavy metals.

A barrier preventing pesticides getting into surface water – berms around fields and ponds can be equipped with 30-50 cm deep barriers made of biochar for filtering out pesticides.

Treating pond and lake water – biochar is good for adsorbing pesticides and fertilizers, as well as for improving water aeration.

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Bio-gas production

Biomass additive, Biogas slurry treatment Initial tests show that, through adding biochar to a fermenter’s biomass, especially a heterogeneous biomasses the methane and hydrogen yield is increased, while at the same time decreasing CO2 and ammonia emissions. Through treating biogas slurry with lacto-ferments and biochar, nutrients are better stored and emissions prevented.

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Biochar treatment of wastewater

Active carbon filter, Pre-rinsing additive and Soil substrate for organic plant bedsand  Composting toilets.

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Biochar treatment of drinking water

Micro-filters, Macro-filters in developing countries

 

Biochar other types of industrial uses:

Exhaust filters, controlling emissions, room air filters.

Industrial materials, carbon fibers, and plastics.

Electronics, semiconductors, batteries.

Metallurgy metal reduction.

Cosmetics soaps, skin-cream and therapeutic bath additives.

Paints and coloring food colorants for industrial paints.

Energy production pellets, substitute for lignite.

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Biochar medicines:

Detoxification, carrier for active pharmaceutical ingredients, Cataplasm for insect bites, abscesses, eczema.

There are several hundred other medical uses proven in its efficiency for many centuries. Somewhat forgotten during the last 40 years, more and more people and doctors rediscover it’s efficiency to treat a whole range of symptoms.

Biochar textiles:

Fabric additive for functional underwear, Thermal insulation for functional clothing and Deodorant for shoe soles

In Japan and China bamboo-based biochars are already being woven into textiles to gain better thermal and breathing properties and to reduce the development of odors through sweat. The same aim is pursued through the inclusion of biochar in shoe soles and socks.

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Biochar wellness:

Filling for mattresses and filling for pillows

Biochar adsorbs perspiration and odors, shields against electromagnetic radiation (electrosmog), and removes negative ions from the skin. Moreover, it acts as a thermal insulator reflecting heat, thereby enabling comfortable sleep without any heat build-up in summer. In Japan, pillows have been filled with biochar for a long time. This is supposed to prevent insomnia and neck tension.

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Biochar shield against electromagnetic radiation:

Biochar can be used in microwave ovens, television sets, power supplies, computers, power sockets, etc. to shield against electromagnetic radiation. This property can also be used in functional clothing as protection for parts of the body particularly sensitive to radiation.

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Biochar food conservation:

Put a small bowl of biochar into the fridge with small linen bags with biochar and it will not only absorb bad odors but also Ethylene which will retard the post ripening of fruits and vegetables prolonging thus their conservation time. As the biochar takes-up humidity, the risk of mold is diminished. In food packaging the conservation time can be increased through the addition of  biochar either in the packaging material or as an additive in small tea bags. For the long-term storage of potatoes, carrots, cabbage, apples, and other winter vegetables and fruits, to dig them into biochar can increase storage time for several months.

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Biochar carbon:

All of the proposed biochar can be recycled as a soil conditioner. Fully depreciated when finally returned to the soil, the black carbon will slowly build up in the soil – and over a few generations the soil’s biochar content could easily reach 50 to 100 tons per hectare, as it’s the case in the ancient Terra Preta soils.

We have listed many possible uses of biochar, This is to be seen as an indication of our intention to keep on adding to the list over the coming years, as experience builds up. We can also be sure thatwe have missed out on a number of uses already available today.  

 

Charcoal should not be referred as biochar:

Hello Folks This is a good run-down. My only issue is that charcoal used for any application outside of agriculture should not be referred to as biochar. The English language already had words for carbonized material, so using the word biochar for non-agricultural applications confuses the fact that biochar is a charcoal specifically intended for agriculture, not industry. The word biochar should not be used as a catch-all word for any carbonized biomass. Charcoal = The catch all word for carbonized biomass. Covers a very wide range of qualities. May used as a fuel, for making activated carbon, as biochar (when prepared properly, or any one of 8000 different uses. Biochar = A form of charcoal specially prepared to be “fed” to plants or animals. You should not feed just any grade of charcoal to plants and animals .. if you do not want to make them sick. My personal test of a fresh biochar (with the exception of those made from manures is that I should be able to put it in my mouth and chew on it. If I can’t do that then it is probably not suitable for plants or animals without additional processing. Activated carbon = Carbonized material, which might be from biomass, coal or petrochemicals, which has been prepared with a high surface area (typically more than 400 m2/gram). Sometimes activated carbon is used in agriculture, but most of the time it is used in industrial and household applications as an adsorbent. Some biochars have properties similar to a low grade activated carbon, however they should not be called biochar when used for industrial applications. Keep up the Great work : )  Char-master Dolph Cooke Channeling Biochar Experts since 2009

[the above comment was initially posted in the Ithaka Journal where the article was first published]

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Chlorine in irrigation water

Gardeners have been using city water, full of chlorine? Most people do, after all, and think nothing of it. It’s what everyone does—water with the water you have, Of course. And if you’re using NPK fertilizers, all might seem to be well. Avid long-time gardeners, on the other hand, would probably have rain barrels.  I finally figured out that city water kills microbes, all right, not only the ones that might make me sick, but the ones that my plants might need. This idea makes sense to me because it also makes sense of the works-in-the-tropics factor: those tropical fields are not urban, and the water isn’t treated. If this is true, harvesting enough rainwater to fill cities with backyard forest gardens won’t be easy, but at least we’ll know our struggle is not the fault of the char.

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Biochar for gardeners:

Results for increase of more than 10%. However, you are right that chlorine treated water is not beneficial for soil microbes.

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Should charcoal be referred as biochar:

There are many different types of carbon products made from different types of feed material with different methods for different specific applications - resulting different product character - required for different quality/safety/user product criteria. The different carbon product systems for different applications having different legal structure and producer's product responsibility as well. Charcoal is made for energetic application so it is not biochar from technical and legal point of view. Even if it happens in some cases that the charcoal product quality may meet biochar to be used in open ecological soil environment.  The legal structure behind it is very different. The new EU regulation law harmonization will soon be mandatory to determine what biochar is for the particular soil application.  The quality requirements must be determined and how it should be labelled. The MS may even specify improved biochar quality beyond the EU regulation mandatory minimum level for justified reasons.

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