Terra Preta in the news

[Michaelangelica]

The Guardian | 2009-09-08 | UK | Page: 37

Response Biochar is a good tool for climate mitigation


farmers to burn food surpluses. If those subsidies were spent on solar and other renewable sources of energy we would have more food and be less dependent on fossil fuels. There is a strong case for the responsible development of biochar as a tool for climate mitigation and for the restoration of agricultural land which has been degraded by decades of industrial agriculture. Simple and inexpensive modern equipment can capture 70% of the carbon in biomass as biochar, double traditional charcoal-making processes. Producing biochar from farm and forestry waste prevents it being burned or left to rot, both of which put 100% of the carbon back into the atmosphere as CO2 or methane. Biochar is made at farm scale and requires minimal management time. Small and medium farmers will be the main beneficiaries. The article quotes George Monbiot’s criticism of biochar: “The idea that biochar is a universal solution that can be safely deployed on a vast scale is as misguided as Mao Zedong’s Great Leap Backwards.” We sha
The Guardian | 2009-09-08 | UK | Page: 37

Response: Biochar is a good tool for climate mitigation | Comment is free | The Guardian

[Essay]

A new way to keep hydrogen: Plumage power | The Economist



Plumage power: A new way to keep hydrogen

Jul 2nd 2009 - From The Economist print edition
"Chicken feathers could provide a high-capacity store"

This article is talking about how to store hydrogen fuel in the "gas tank" of an H-powered car. Some porous material is needed to soak up the hydrogen like a sponge....

Originally Posted by Economist

The fibres in feathers are almost entirely composed of keratin, a protein also found in hair and nails. When heated in the absence of oxygen (a process called pyrolysis), keratin forms hollow tubular structures six millionths of a metre across and riddled with microscopic pores, much like carbon nanotubes.
The researchers demonstrated how this can be done at the 13th Annual Green Chemistry and Engineering Conference, held recently in College Park, Maryland. To avoid melting the fibres and depriving them of their desirable structural properties, they first heat-treated the feathers to around 215°C. This strengthened their structure and allowed further heating to 400-450°C. At this point the material becomes more porous, increasing its surface area and its hydrogen-storing capacity.

Hello!? This is the recipe for creating biochar!
If they had more scientifically fluent writers/editors, maybe they would have pointed this out.


But whatever....
It's nice to know biochar has so many uses/qualities/potentials.

I've been telling people biochar is not really a "silver bullet," but that biochar is more like silver buckshot.
That went over very well at my presentation last Saturday. It was "talk like a pirate day" --and with the subject of bichaarrrrr, it was hard to pass up the obvious opportunity--but first impressions with a quasi-religious organization are not helped by obscure comedic references. Biochar itself is obscure enough.
===

Interesting chemistry with that recipe.... From what I've read, the ~215°C treatment would gently drive off the water and many volatiles and allow an amorphous "high-carbon lattice" to develop.
For hemicellulose, this temperature is where degradation begins--allowing more hydrogen and oxygen to escape. Anyone know about keratin? Is it coiled? ...hmmmm--collagen might generate an interesting pore pattern....

At the higher temperature mentioned in the recipe, microstructural rearrangement of the carbon lattice (as well as "re-condensation" of recently volatilized biomolecular fragments) would help build a more graphene-dominated lattice. That really increases the microporosity--but reduces the oils/functional groups content.

Producing that high graphene content in biochars is a goal when trying to maximize surface area/volume. In this case I'm not sure if they are going for that level of pore structure or some other pore structure that naturally develops in pyrolyzed keratin--or both.

[erich]

Hi List,
We made the UNEP report.

However, I was disappointed this week that the first zero Carbon pledge by the president of the Maldive islands got no media attention, over shadowed by Our president's address and China's flexing it's new found Green muscles. Maybe China will serve to strengthen the president's hand, an environmental arms race, a "Cool" war, following the doctrine of Mutually Assured Sustainability.

Cheers
Erich




Washington/Nairobi, 24 September 2009 -The pace and scale of climate change may now be outstripping even the most sobering predictions of the last report of the Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change (IPCC).

Last Line:

" A number of innovative approaches are emerging to keep carbon out of the atmosphere, including the use of "biochar", biologically-derived charcoal. It is mixed in soils, increasing fertility and potentially locking up carbon for centuries. This is a 21st century application of a technology known as Terra Preta, or Black Earth, used by Amazon peoples before the arrival of Europeans in South America."

Media-Newswire.com - Press Release Distribution - PR Agency



Climate Change Science Compendium 2009
Climate Change Science Compendium 2009 - United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

"Forms of eco-agriculture have been practised in the past and at impressive
scales: Terra Preta soils of central Amazonia could provide tremendous
opportunities for multiple benefits (UNEP 2009). Large-scale generation and
utilization of nutrient-rich Terra Preta soils would decrease the necessity for
clearing new agricultural lands that require deforestation. Less deforestation
for agricultural lands would maintain biodiversity while mitigating both land
degradation and climate change and, if done properly, can alleviate waste
and sanitation problems in some communities (Glaser 2007)."

http://www.unep.org/compendium2009/P...endium2009.pdf

[Eclipse Now]

Not only that, but because charred chicken feathers behave like carbon-nano-tubes they may even be able to replace expensive nano-tubes and be used in carbon-fibre panelling, especially when mixed with soy-bean glue! These "green chemists" are blowing my mind because they think it might be strong enough to make wind-turbine blades! Chicken feathers and soy beans! Now I've heard everything.

Chicken Feathers Could Store Hydrogen

[maikeru]

Technology Review: Blogs: TR Editors' blog: Carbon Nanotubes Are Super Fertilizer

Carbon nanotubes can significantly boost germination and growth of tomato seedlings. Similar effect to biochar? The scientists attribute it to increased water uptake, but I suspect it might be more likely that the carbon nanotubes improved the media's CEC and nutrient uptake to the seedlings, IMO. However, seems carbon nanotubes may be toxic in a similar manner as asbestos, so use as a soil additive might be questionable (if not dangerous). As far as I know, biochar and other forms of charcoal do not have the same health or environmental concerns as nanotubes do.

[Eclipse Now]

< an aside >
How does one dispose of carbon nanotubes then?
< / an aside >

[erich]

Exceptional results from biochar experiment in Cameroon

Exceptional results from biochar experiment in Cameroon - Scitizen

Carbon Commentary · Exceptional results from biochar experiment in Cameroon



The broad smiles say it all ( that , and the size of the Biochar corn root balls)

Biochar Fund - fighting hunger, deforestation, energy insecurity and climate change - Biochar Cameroon pictures

Mark my words;
Given the potential for Lauren's programs to grow exponentialy, only a short time lies between This man's nomination for a Noble Prize.

An honor to have Laurens as a commenter on the Biochar list ,

Erich

[Michaelangelica]

Nano particles have the advantage and disadvantage of being so small.
Many, here, are worried by their inclusion in sunscreens and the fact they can readily pass directly into the body with unknown effects.

As in essence they are the same chemicals normally used, but in nano size, manufactures do not have to label that their ingredients are nano sized.

I am sure that bits of activated carbon would be close to nano sized, so breathing in charcoal dust, like most dusts (talc) and small particles, should be avoided 'procausionally'.

[Essay]

Progress; slow but sure.

I got an email recently with a link to this article:

http://www.fayobserver.com/Articles/...ayObserver.com - Innovative machine to be tested at Bladen farm

A mobile pyrolysis machine rolled up to an experimental farm in Bladen County last week. Mounted on a small flatbed trailer, the device was soon fired up for the crowd.

The mobile unit is a cluster of industrial kettles and pulleys, with a funnel, propane tank and netbook computer attached.

The contraption heats wood waste at high temperatures without oxygen to produce a substance called biochar.

"Biochar, we're going to evaluate in a three-year project on a number of important North Carolina crops," Perritt told the assembled as they munched on finger food inside a storage shed on Privateer Farm.

3 years! I guess they won't believe other field trials or research. They should call North Carolina the show-me state.

~

p.s.
"One of the most interested observers at the Privateer Farm demonstration was Matt Harris, executive vice president of business development for Eco Technologies Group LLC."
I don't think the article makes this clear, but I think it is Eco Tech's unit--the Biochar 1000--
http://www.biocharsystems.com/make/Biochar-1000.pdf
that is being demonstrated. No wonder Matt is "most interested" in the demo.

[erich]

James Bruges, a cohort of one of our commentators at the Biochar List, Richard Douthwaite , from Feasta , has a great piece with many links to the NZ & OZ carbon accounting efforts, and Anila stoves, & much more

The Biochar Debate - written by James Bruges
Be sure to look at : SCAD is now carrying out trial plots using biochar to demonstrate the increased yields that result.

Lots of other good links on Cap & Dividend;
Cap and Share is the policy for achieving it (called ‘Cap and Dividend’ in the USA).

Woodbrooke Good Lives Project: The Biochar Debate - written by James Bruges


Black is Green Pty. Ltd. ,,,,,,,BIG Mobile Reactor

Australian biochar and mobile biochar production


Online platform offering policymaker toolkit for secure and renewable energy
The PACT website, which was originally launched in November 2007, has been completely rebuilt and embraces eight new policy recommendations on energy efficiency.
"There are policy examples for the use of cooking stoves, which do not emit CO2 or other hazardous fumes, but produce biochar, an organic, carbon-storing fertiliser."
Renewable Energy Focus - Online platform offering policymaker toolkit for secure and renewable energy

New Renewable Energy Alliance established at WFC Workshop in Addis Ababa
"Energy technology and policy solutions for off-grid regions as well sustainable cooking solutions and the need for a Rural Electrification Development Fund were discussed after briefings on the energy situation and energy policies in Ethiopia, Nigeria and South Africa. "
New Renewable Energy Alliance established at WFC Workshop in Addis Ababa: PACT



Chemical Engineer Joins NZ Biochar Centre
Scoop: Chemical Engineer Joins Biochar Centre


Gerard Rego's blog, on Al Gore's new focus on SOILS
http://fellows.rdvp.org/gerard-rego/...-the-economist


Cheers,
Erich