1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. Syngas can be as a source
of energy.
Anaerobic

5. My Whitehorse biochar project-2011

18. 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.

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

20. 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

23. 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:
Soil: clay loam, cold and poor in plant nutrient concentration

25. 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

26. 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

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

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

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

36. 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

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

39. For more information:
Art Nash - Energy Specialist and Assistant Extension Professor
Cooperative Extension Service
University of Alaska Fairbanks
308 Tanana Drive
Fairbanks, AK
Phone
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