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An Introduction To Biochar With An Emphasis On Its Properties
An Introduction To Biochar With An Emphasis On Its Properties
An Introduction To Biochar With An Emphasis On Its Properties
Jim Amonette
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Richland, WA 99352 USA
PNNL-SA-66736
Outline
What is Biochar?
How is it Made?
Pyrolysis and Hydrothermal Carbonization Processes
Feedstocks
Yields
What are its Properties?
Physical
Chemical
How can it be Used?
Energy
Soil Fertility
Carbon Sequestration
Where does it fit in the Environmental Technology Landscape?
Summary
JE Amonette 24Apr2009
What is Biochar?
“Biochar is a fine-grained charcoal high in organic carbon
and largely resistant to decomposition. It is produced
from pyrolysis of plant and waste feedstocks. As a soil
amendment, biochar creates a recalcitrant soil carbon
pool that is carbon-negative, serving as a net
withdrawal of atmospheric carbon dioxide stored in
highly recalcitrant soil carbon stocks. The enhanced
nutrient retention capacity of biochar-amended soil not
only reduces the total fertilizer requirements, but also
the climate and environmental impact of croplands.”
(International Biochar Initiative Scientific Advisory
Committee)
JE Amonette 24Apr2009
What is Biochar?
Product
Solid product resulting from advanced thermal degradation of
biomass
Technology
Biofuel—process heat, bio-oil, and gases (steam, volatile HCs)
Soil Amendment—sorbent for cations and organics, liming agent,
inoculation carrier
Climate Change Mitigation—highly recalcitrant pool for C,
avoidance of N2O and CH4 emissions, carbon negative energy,
increased net primary productivity (NPP)
JE Amonette 24Apr2009
How is Biochar Made?
Major Techniques:
Slow Pyrolysis
traditional (dirty, low char yields) and modern (clean, high char yields)
Flash Pyrolysis
modern, high pressure, higher char yields
Fast Pyrolysis
modern, maximizes bio-oil production, low char yields
Gasification
modern, maximizes bio-gas production, minimizes bio-oil production,
low char yields but highly recalcitrant
Hydrothermal Carbonization
under development, wet feedstock, high pressure, highest “char”
yield but quite different composition and probably not as recalcitrant
as pyrolytic carbons
JE Amonette 24Apr2009
Slow Pyrolysis—Continuous Auger Feed
Exhaust gas
and heat
Gas
Generator
turbine
Lignocellulosic Electricity Air
feedstock
Mill Gas
cleaner
and
Flue separator
Hopper Steam gas
Pyrolysis Pyrolysis
Dryer reactor gases
Cyclone
Feeder Combustor
Motor
Heat Char
Air
Biochar
storage
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Fast Pyrolysis Fluidized Bed Reactor
Vapor, gas,
Flue Cyclone
Mill char
gas products
Quencher
Hopper
Bio -oil
Pyrolysis Char storage
reactor
Biochar
Motor Feeder Bio-oil
storage
Fluidizing gas
Combustor
Air
Brown (2009)
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Pyrolysis
JE Amonette 24Apr2009
Competition Among Pyrolysis Processes
Spruce Wood, Slow Pyrolysis, Vacuum
(Demirbas, 2001)
Factors favoring 90
biochar formation 80
Char
Gas
70
Lower temperature 60
Tar+Liquid
Yield, wt%
50
Slower heating rates 40
Slower volatilization 30
20
rates 10
0
Longer feedstock 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900
residence times High Heating Temperature, C
In general, process is Eastern Red Maple Wood, Fast Pyrolysis, High Purge Rate
(Scott et al., 1988)
more important than
feedstock in 90
80
Char
determining products 70
Gas
Liquid
of pyrolysis 60
Yield, wt%
50
40
30
20
10
0
200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900
JE Amonette 24Apr2009
High Heating Temperature, C
Wood Char Yields from Pyrolysis
Figure from Amonette and Joseph (2009) showing data of Figueiredo et al. (1989), Demirbas (2001), Antal et al.
(2000), Scott et al. (1988), and Schenkel (1999) as presented by Antal and Gronli (2003),.
JE Amonette 24Apr2009
Feedstocks
50
y = 0.39x + 26.76
45
R2 = 0.99
40
Husks, Shells, Kernels
Char Yield, wt%
35
30
25 Corn Cob Wood y = 0.33x + 15.29
R2 = 0.96
20
15
Char (277 C)
10 Char (877 C)
5
0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Biomass Lignin Content, wt%
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What are the Properties of Biochar?
Pine Wood Char
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Physical Properties
Slow
Fast
Gas
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Physical Properties Change with HTT
a
)
b
)
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Physical Structure and
Chemical Properties Depend
on Carbon Bonding Network
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Chemical Properties
Slow
Fast
Gas
Gasification (steam)
600
400
200
0
OKEB PBEB PCEB PCN OAK PNNL‐M PNNL‐P PNNL‐S HW OK (CSA) WS CSB
‐200
JE Amonette 24Apr2009
pH-Dependent Exchange Capacities
Oak Feedstock
1000
OKEB Slow Pyrolysis (steam), 475°C
800 OAK
Ion Sorption Capacity, meq/kg
OK (CSA)
600
400
Fast Pyrolysis, 500°C
200
Gasification (steam), 700°C
0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
-200
-400
-600
pH
JE Amonette 24Apr2009
How can Biochar Technology be Used?
JE Amonette 24Apr2009
Comparison of Biochar Production Methods
JE Amonette 24Apr2009
The Biofuel N2O Problem
Recent work (Crutzen et al., 2007, Atmos.Chem. Phys.
Disc. 7:11191; Del Grosso, 2008, Eos 89:529) suggests
that globally, N2O production averages at 4% (+/- 1%) of
N that is fixed
IPCC reports have accounted only for field measurements
of N2O emitted, which show values close to 1%, but
ignore other indicators discussed by Crutzen et al.
If 4% is correct, then combustion of biofuels except for
high cellulose (low-N) fuels will actually increase global
warming relative to petroleum due to large global warming
potential of N2O
Biochar avoids this issue
Ties up reactive N in a stable pool
Eliminates potential N2O emissions from manures and other
biomass sources converted to biochar
Decreases N2O emissions in field by improving N-fertilizer use
efficiency and increasing air-filled porosity
JE Amonette 24Apr2009
Soil Amendment
JE Amonette 24Apr2009
Identification of best biochar type for soil
application
Criteria
Near-neutral pH
High ion exchange capacities (CEC and AEC)
Moderate hydrophobicity to retain organics
High stability to oxidation
Low volatile content
Pre-treated with NH4+ to avoid induced N deficiency
Recommendation
Steam-activated
Carbonized (i.e., treated to higher temperature to remove
volatiles)
Slow pyrolysis probably better
JE Amonette 24Apr2009
Carbon Sequestration
Why?
Decrease atmospheric
GHG levels Atmosphere
597 + 211
Stop acidification of
oceans by CO2 7.
absorption 2
and CH4
Increase net primary
productivity (NPP)
JE Amonette 24Apr2009
Observed and Projected Global Warming
JE Amonette 24Apr2009
IPCC (2007) WG1-AR4, p. 136
Properties of Key Greenhouse Gases
CO2 30-325* 1 1 1 1
*Decay rate has several pathways with different rates. About 22% of the
CO2 is very long lived. The first two half-lives are 30 yr and 325 yr.
IPCC (2007) WG1-AR4, SPM, p. 3
JE Amonette 24Apr2009
Projected Atmospheric Carbon Levels and
Associated Global Warming
Cumulative Anthropogenic C in Atmosphere (GtC)
2500
Atmospheric concentration
of CO2, ppm
2000
1250
1500
850
1000
600
0
B
t
B1
A2
50
an
A1
17
st
00
00
00
n
21
21
Co
21
05
20
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Creating a Stable Carbon Pool with Biochar
JE Amonette 24Apr2009
Human-Appropriated Net Primary Productivity
29% of all C fixed by photosynthesis aboveground
(ca. 10.2 GtC/yr) is currently used by humans!
Of this 1.5 GtC/yr is unused crop residues,
manures, etc.
An additional 1.8 GtC/yr) is not fixed due to prior
human activities (e.g., land degradation) and
current land use
Current fossil-C emissions are ca. 8 GtC/yr
Increased productivity and expanded use of
residues from biochar production could have a
significant impact on global C budget
Time, years
800
JE Amonette 24Apr2009
IBI Estimates of Global Biochar Impact
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The last resort ?
To balance the C cycle, annual
human harvest of fixed biomass
would have to double from about
8.2 Gt C currently (Haberl et al.,
2008) to more than 15 Gt C. This
would amount to harvesting about
40% of above-ground biomass C,
and is comparable to levels of
biomass C appropriation seen in
India today (Haberl et al., 2008).
JE Amonette 24Apr2009
Methane and Traditional Methods
Woody Biomass
Traditional methods No Energy Recovery
without energy 36% Biochar Yield
600
recovery generate 30% Biochar Yield
methane 500
20% Biochar Yield
10% Biochar Yield
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Impact of Energy Recovery
pyrolysis improves
mitigation potential 500
Modern
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Where does Biochar Fit?
Offers a flexible blend of biofuel energy, soil fertility enhancement,
and climate change mitigation
Limited by biomass availability and, eventually, land disposal area
How much biomass can be made available for biochar production vs.
other uses?
Crop-derived biofuels cannot supply all the world’s energy needs
Maximum estimates suggest 50% of current, 33% of future
Biodiversity (HANPP)?
N2O?
Perhaps best use of harvested biomass is to make biochar to draw
down atmospheric C levels and enhance soil productivity, with energy
production as a bonus (but not the driving force).
This will require government incentives (C credits/taxes?) and a
change in the way we value cropped biofuels
JE Amonette 24Apr2009
Further Information and Acknowledgments
International Biochar Initiative
(www.biochar-international.org)
New book: Biochar for Environmental Management:
Science and Technology, Earthscan, 2009 (in press)
North American Biochar Conference 2009
University of Colorado at Boulder, August 9-12, 2009
Research supported by
USDOE Office of Fossil Energy through the National Energy Technology
Laboratory
USDOE Office of Biological and Environmental Research (OBER) through
the Carbon Sequestration in Terrestrial Ecosystems (CSiTE) project.
Research was performed at the W.R. Wiley Environmental Molecular Sciences
Laboratory, a national scientific user facility at the Pacific Northwest National
Laboratory (PNNL) sponsored by the USDOE-OBER.
PNNL is operated for the USDOE by Battelle Memorial Institute under contract
DE AC06 76RL01830.
PNNL-SA-64398
JE Amonette 24Apr2009
References Cited
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Amonette, J. E., Dai, S. S., Hu, Y., Schlekewey, N., Shaff, Z., Russell, C. K., Burton, S. D., and Arey, B. W. 2008. ‘An exploration of the physico-
chemical diversity of a suite of biochars.’ Eos Trans. AGU 89(53), Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract B31G-0379. Poster presentation.
Antal, M. J. Jr. and Grønli, M. 2003. ‘The art, science, and technology of charcoal production’, Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research, vol
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