Biochar: Energy generation and many other applications Mingchu Zhang, Ph.D. Professor of Soil Science Arthur Nash, Alaska Energy Specialist School of Natural Resources and Extension University of Alaska Fairbanks Nov. 19, 2017

Production of biochar It is a pyrolysis process. Pyrolysis is a process at high temperature without oxygen. Amount of energy generation and properties of biochar are subject to temperature at the process High temperature, high energy generation Biochar can be made of a variety of feedstocks

Biochar use Traditional uses: soil application Heavy metal mitigation in mining Construction materials Air decontamination, humidity regulators Water filtration treatment materials Feed additives Paint, color agent

Syngas can be as a source of energy. Anaerobic

My Whitehorse biochar project-2011

Properties of good biochar Large surface area. High CEC. High adsorption for metals, especially heavy metals. Slow to very slow in decomposition, therefore lasting in soil for a longer time.

Feedstocks for making biochars Garden waste Kitchen waste Agriculture and forestry products Waste papers Natural fiber based textile Plant material based packing materials

Impact on soil after application Improve soil heat properties due to black color. Improve soil water holding capacity. Improve soil chemical property such as nutrient holding capacity. Improve soil tilth. Improve soil biological activities. Limited impact on nutrient availability to plants

Experiment in Whitehorse Canada Three crops: bromegrass, barley, and potato   border b Rep. 1 T1 T2 o Rep. 2 r Rep. 3 d Rep. 4 e Biochar application rate: 10 t/ha Fertilizer application rate: 100-30-45 Soil: clay loam, cold and poor in plant nutrient concentration

Crop Treat. Biomass N P K   kg/ha % Bromegrass Biochar 1936 0.95 0.19 1.47 No biochar 2271 0.89 0.18 1.39 Prob. (t test) 0.03 0.13 0.28 Barley 9240 0.87 0.25 1.11 9726 1.00 0.29 1.02 0.08 0.46 Potato Top 963 1.84 0.21 3.43 415 1.99 3.25 0.04 0.10 0.33 0.003 Tuber 5937 0.88 0.27 0.22 2000 0.26 0.005

Crop Treat. Ca Mg Na Cu Zn Fe   % mg/kg Bromegrass Biochar 0.45 0.14 9.7 1.6 7.5 29 No biochar 0.41 0.15 17.0 7.3 30.3 Prob. (t test) 0.43 0.32 0.006 0.09 0.03 Barley 0.22 0.13 1532 3.7 16.3 14.0 0.20 1981 3.9 19.3 13.3 0.44 0.36 0.46 0.37 0.33 Potato Top 2.20 0.82 579 2.6 29.8 95.8 2.38 0.91 612 2.9 26.5 84.0 0.40 0.50 0.17 Tuber 0.02 0.12 63.5 7.8 5.5 79.8 2.15 8.3 4.5 1.00 0.29 0.38 0.08 0.04

Feedstocks for making biochars Garden waste Kitchen waste Agriculture and forestry products Waste papers Natural fiber based textile Plant material based packing materials

Feedstocks for making biochars Garden waste Kitchen waste Agriculture and forestry products Waste papers Natural fiber based textile Plant material based packing materials

Biochar for Soil Improvement: Evaluation of Biochar from Gasification and Slow Pyrolysis Lydia Fryda * and Rianne Visser. Agriculture 2015, 5(4), 1076-1115; doi:10.3390/agriculture5041076

Water extractable mineral elements in biochar (mg/kg biochar) Zn Cu Fe Al Mn Mg Ca K Spruce pellet 111.9 7.5 39.2 2.9 9.0 24.9 250.4 287.7 Spruce dive 77.4 3.7 10.2 2.7 7.4 15.5 130.0 0.0 Banboo 0.4 1.2 21.1 32.1 5.0 17.4 20.5 1164.5 Whitehorse biocahr 5.7 9.3 58.1 476.3 174.3 H temp. Biochar 4.2 5.3 1.1 64.9 85.0 4980.0 Research results from SNRE, 2017

http://www.biochar-international.org/

How well will it keep nutrients at roots’ reach and ions able to exchange- then sequestration!

For more information: Art Nash - Energy Specialist and Assistant Extension Professor Cooperative Extension Service University of Alaska Fairbanks 308 Tanana Drive Fairbanks, AK 99775-6180 Phone 907-474-6366 Email: alnashjr@alaska.edu See the blog at http://uafcesenergy.wordpress.com Go to the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/UAFCESEnergy?ref=hl