50 Uses for Biochar

Biochar was initially used only in agriculture. Today, biochar is used in many different fields, allowing this plant-based raw material to take full advantage of its positive effects. Biochar, which is now specifically used in industry, can store CO2 in the atmosphere for a long time, or at least replace fossil carbon sources.

For farmers, the cost of applying more than 10 tons of biochar per hectare is too high and the feasibility is not strong. The average annual income per hectare of land is about 1,000 euros, but the application of 10 tons of biochar requires 8,000 euros, and the 8,000 euros have to be repaid in installments over the next few decades. And it doesn't do much to help cut carbon dioxide emissions, favored by many non-industrials.

Does it really make sense to input biochar into farmland?

These economic concerns are not dissimilar to those faced by locals in the Amazon delta and Australia when they use biochar to amend their soil, some places still import more than 100 tons of biochar per hectare. Even if there was no money at that time, just to input biochar into the soil, it would be economically difficult to obtain 2,000 tons of wood by cutting down about 300 to 400 huge tropical rainforest trees, and then use ancient charcoal kilns to produce about 100 tons of biochar. Pointless. And it's all done without chainsaws, axes, or other animals for logging.

The idea of applying dozens of tons of biochar to farmland can only come from those scholars. According to experimental observations, inputting 50 tons of biochar per hectare is an appropriate dose to improve the quality of farmland, but they also came to a conclusion that has no practical relevance at all. The erroneous conclusion – that is, one-time large-scale application of biochar. This is a clear departure from the truth: no land becomes Terra Preta simply because dozens of tons of charcoal were plowed into it.

The many uses of biochar?

If biochar input into soil does not have multiple benefits—retention of volatile nutrients, use as an adsorbent, insulation material in the construction industry, battery energy storage, use in sewage treatment plant filtration function, as silage or feed additive, etc., then it Just too expensive. Prior to composting, initial utilization can be done in farmers' slurry pits or sewage treatment plants. Biochar should be injected into the soil at the last step after reuse to help create "Terra Preta".

The 50 possible uses of biochar are listed below, but these are not all the application technologies of biochar, in fact this is just the beginning. If human beings want to maintain the living conditions on earth for a long time, then in the medium term, biochar will (or must) replace petroleum as the main raw material of our industrial society. First, we will briefly review each of the uses of biochar, as we intend to explore some of them in depth, with a particular emphasis on the use of biochar in agriculture and livestock, backed up by the latest research findings. Undoubtedly, biochar is one of the hottest research fields in this decade, and the research and application of biochar are increasing year by year. However, no matter how passionate we are about our field of study, regardless of its importance, its practical effect in the real world determines its success.

Extensive use of biochar in animal husbandry

1. Silage

2. Feed additives/supplements

3. Junk additives

4. Mud treatment

5. Manure composting

6. Fishery water treatment

Currently in Europe, 90% of biochar is used in livestock. Unlike its application in the field, farmers will see the effects of using biochar within a few days. Whether it is used for feed, garbage or sludge treatment, the effect of biochar deodorization is very fast. As a feed supplement, the incidence of diarrhea in animals decreased rapidly after the application of biochar, the feed intake was also improved, the allergic reaction disappeared and became much calmer.

used as a soil conditioner

7. Carbon fertilizer

8. Compost

9. Substitute peat in potting soil

10. Plant Protection

11. Supplementary fertilizer with trace elements

In some very poor soils (mainly in the tropics), the application of untreated biochar has positive effects on soil fertility. Examples include improving soil water holding capacity, soil aeration and releasing nutrients by increasing soil pH. In temperate climates, the humus content of soils tends to exceed 1.5%, suggesting that biochar input has a less significant effect on soil humus than the above aspects. In fact, plant nutrients released in soil are highly adsorbent, which tends to negatively affect plant growth – at least in the short and medium term. This is why, in temperate climates, biochar is loaded with nutrients and its surface activated by microbial oxidation. The best way to load nutrients is to co-compost coke, adding 10-30% biochar to the composted biomass. Co-composting of biochar is not only a valuable soil conditioner, but also an efficient substitute for peat in potting soils, greenhouses, nurseries and other specialty cultivations.

When biochar is used as a carrier of plant nutrients, long-lasting fertilizers with effective mineral and organic matter can be produced. This type of fertilizer has the effect of preventing nutrient leaching (a disadvantage of traditional fertilizers). Nutrients are available to plants when they need them. Through the stimulation of microbial symbiosis, plants absorb nutrients from the porous carbon structure of biochar. Organic carbon-based fertilizers can be produced by mixing biochar with organic waste such as wool, molasses, ash, mud and pomace. The product is at least as effective as conventional fertilizers and has the advantage of not adversely affecting the ecosystem.

Biochar contains all the trace elements contained in pyrolyzed biomass. During the pyrolysis process, key trace elements (more than 50 metal elements) become part of the carbon structure, thereby preventing trace element leaching loss, and are provided to the plant through the symbiosis of root exudates and microorganisms.

A series of by-products are also produced during the pyrolysis process. Attached to the pores and surfaces of the biochar, these byproducts typically mobilize the plant's internal immune system, increasing its resistance to pathogens. However, this potential use is just beginning to be developed and still requires a lot of research work.

For construction

12. Heat insulation

13. Air purification

14. Eliminate ground pollution

15. Humidity regulation

16. Protection against electromagnetic radiation (“electromagnetic waves”)

Two properties of biochar are its extremely low thermal conductivity and its extraordinary ability to absorb water (it can absorb up to 6 times its weight in water). These properties mean that biochar is a suitable material for building insulation and regulating humidity. Biochar can be combined with clay, lime and cement mortar and added to the sand at a ratio of up to 50%, thus creating an indoor plaster with good thermal insulation and breathing properties, keeping the humidity of the room at 45-70 in summer and winter %. Doing so not only prevents air from drying out (which can lead to respiratory and allergies), but also prevents air from condensing on exterior walls (which can lead to mold growth).

Biochar peat gypsum has the function of absorbing odor and toxins, and this property is not only beneficial to smokers. In addition to housing, biochar plasters are particularly suitable for use in warehouses, factories and agricultural buildings, as well as in schools and high-traffic rooms.

Biochar is a very effective adsorbent of electromagnetic radiation, which means that biochar plasters are excellent at protecting against "electromagnetic waves".

Biochar can also be applied to the facades of buildings by spraying technology mixed with lime, sprayed to a thickness of up to 20 cm, and is an alternative to Styrofoam. In this way, an insulated home can act as a carbon sink while having a healthier indoor climate. If such a house is later demolished, the biochar stucco can be recycled as a valuable composting additive.

Purification

17. Soil remediation additives (especially for old mines, military bases and landfills)

18. Soil matrix [Efficient adsorbent for treating wastewater (especially urban wastewater polluted by heavy metals) sediment]

19. Barriers to prevent pesticides from entering surface water (30-50 cm deep biochar barriers can be set up on both sides of farmland and ponds to filter pesticides)

20. Treat ponds and lakes (biochar adsorbs pesticides and fertilizers, improves water aeration)

biogas production

21. Biological additives

22. The first trials of biogas slurry treatment showed that the addition of biochar to the biomass (especially heterogeneous biomass) in fermenters increased methane and hydrogen production while reducing carbon dioxide and ammonia emissions.

By treating biogas slurry with lactic acid bacteria fermentation and biochar, nutrients can be better stored and biogas emissions can be prevented.

wastewater treatment

23. Activated carbon filter

24. Filter pretreatment additives

25. Organic Plant Soil Substrate

26. Toilet composting

drinking water treatment

27. Microfiltration device

28. Filters for developing countries

Other diverse uses

Exhaust filter: 29. Control emissions 30. Room air filter

Industrial Materials: 31. Carbon Fiber 32. Plastic

Electronics: 33. Semiconductors 34. Batteries

Metallurgy: 35. Metal Reduction

Cosmetics: 36. Soaps 37. Skin creams 38. Therapeutic bath additives

Paints and pigments: 39. Food colorants 40. Industrial coatings

Energy production: 41. Target pellets 42. Alternatives to lignite

Drug: 43. Antidote 44. Carrier of active pharmaceutical ingredients

textile

45. Functional underwear fabric additives

46. Thermal insulation of functional clothing

47. Sole deodorant

In Japan and China, bamboo-based biochar has been woven into textiles for better thermal performance and breathability, and to reduce odor through sweat. Similarly, biochar materials can also be added to shoe soles and socks.

healthy

48. Mattress filler

49. Pillow stuffing

Biochar absorbs sweat and odor, shields electromagnetic radiation (electromagnetic waves), and removes negative ions from the skin. Plus, it acts as a thermal insulator to reflect heat, so you can sleep comfortably in summer without any built-in heat buildup. In Japan, pillows filled with biochar have had a history of preventing insomnia and neck tension.

50. Shield electromagnetic radiation

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

All proposed biochar uses, except uses 35, 41, and 42, are carbon sinks. After initial or repeated uses, biochar can be recycled as a soil amendment. When the biochar's value is fully exhausted and eventually returned to the soil, black carbon will slowly accumulate in the soil - over a few generations, the soil's biochar content can easily reach 50 to 100 tons per hectare.