THE PYROLYTIC AGE

We have had the Bronze Age, and the Iron Age, now we are embarking on the Pyrolytic Age.

The word Pyrolysis is formed by two words from the Ancient Greek language, pyro meaning to heat, and lysis meaning to separate. To create fuel (energy), pyrolysis is the thermo-chemical depolymerisation (breaking of the chemical bonds, between the various molecules to release the stored energy sequestered from the sun) of any organic material at elevated temperatures, in the absence of oxygen (anaerobic), thus dis-enabling the material from combusting (catching fire).

In some Pyrolytic Reactors the resultant fumes are cooled down into Bio-fuel. Eventually we will re-open landfills to use their stored waste to create fuel.

Alternatively,

Pyrolytic Reactors can now be used for the creation of Activated charcoal/carbon (AC). AC can be used as a medicine, as a filter for air and water, or to mitigate contaminated soil. Due to it’s high porosity AC can adsorb 100-200 times it’s own weight, one gram of AC has a surface area in excess of 3,000 square meters. Studies have proven it can mitigate contaminated soil. AC is effective in reducing soil acidity, and assisting plant growth, it can also reduce dangerous soil microbes, and bind allelochemicals.

However,

Inactivated carbon and charcoal are not the same. Raw charcoal actually contains an amount of residual hydrogen and oxygen, and is the charred product of semi-pyrolysis of wood. Due to its lower production temperatures, it has lower porosity than bio-char. However the lower temperature also results in a less stable form of charcoal, meaning that it can decompose in soil faster than bio-char. Carbon is a pure element that occurs naturally in a variety of allotropes such as graphite, and diamond, and has no intrinsic filtering properties. Bio-char is similar to charcoal, but has an intended use as a soil amendment, or absorber of contaminants. Bio-char technology is based on vegetation-derived, charcoal, that is added to agricultural soil, as an amendment, and as a means of sequestering carbon. A bio-char system has to be certified as efficient, whereas a charcoal system does not, as it only has to produce quality fuel.

AC is miraculous, but it is not fertiliser. In fact, if you bury it, it will sap nutrients out of the soil, and stunt the growth of most plants, for up to a year.

Undocumented ash is best disposed of, as it has little, or no nutritional benefits, and is potentially harmful to soil, and plants.

Orchid growers prefer Horticultural Charcoal, because it is not only cheaper, but it is fired without the use of chemicals such as Sodium Hydroxide (caustic soda).