Biochar Gasification

Biochar is a stable form of charcoal and is used to enhance soils and filtration. Due to the molecular structure, biochar is chemically and biologically more stable than the original carbon it comes from.

Biochar is produced by the torrefaction of biomass, usually through direct or indirect heating. Biochar is also considered a means of sequestering carbon to offset harmful carbon harmful emissions. For example, thousands of years ago, Amazon Indians put charcoal into the soil to enhance its fertility.

Archaeological finds show that much of this charcoal remains fixed in the soil to this day. Evidence also suggests that ancient people piled and covered wood in earthen pits and then burned it slowly with little air.  This method, still used in developing countries, creates considerable smoke and releases half the carbon dioxide in the original biomass and other greenhouse gasses.  That’s not healthy for people, or the atmosphere and all that heat (energy) is wasted.

Biochar increases soil fertility and agricultural productivity whilst protecting against some soil-borne diseases. Studies have shown that biochar can help: retain nutrients in the soil; decrease soil acidity; reduce the uptake of toxins; improve soil structure; assist in water retention; and decrease the release of CH4 and N2O greenhouse gases. However, caution needs to be exercised regarding how and what is turned into biochar. Here you will find information and plans to build gasifiers to make biochar at various scales.

Biochar Gasification Plans

1G Toucan TLUD for Biochar Production, January 2010, Hugh McLaughlin, Alterna Biocarbon Inc. (The lowly 1G Toucan is intended to introduce the user to TLUDs and generate small
quantities of biochar for home use.)

Barrel-size Micro-gasification for Combined Heat and Power, 2012 Paul Anderson, ETHOS conference 2012.

Building SeaChar.org’s Estufa Finca 5 Gallon BioChar Farm Stove, 2012, Donnelly, A., SeaChar.org.

Fabricating a 200L biomass gasifier for making enhanced water filter Biochar, Aqueous Solutions, Advancing Science of Self-reliance.

Fatboy Up Draft Top Lit Gasifier, basic plans

Instructions for making and using Liberty Biofuel LLC Biochar Processor, Ed Cahoj

Making Biochar in a15oz TLUD, School Lesson Plan, NASA, US Biochar Initiative

Simple Biochar Production Generated From Cattle Dung and Coconut Shell, 2011 Journal of Basic and Applied Scientific Research, by Sukartono, Utomo, Nugroho and Kusuma.

Also, see the Biochar Information page for research papers and further detail.

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biochar stoves, small scale biochar production, air flow or high quality char