Qu'est-ce que le biochar ?

Biochar is a natural substance that locks carbon in the ground. This means that it cannot be released back into the atmosphere, which is vital for reducing CO₂ emissions from our environment. It can also be used for energy production.

Biochar is a soil amendment.

Soil amendments are materials added to the soil to improve its qualities. Biochar is one such addition to soil. Electrically charged sites in biochar help hold ions and reduce their leaching into the soil. Biochar’s beneficial properties extend far beyond its role as a general soil modification. Soils rich in biochar tend to have better nutrient retention and less leaching of heavy metals.

The use of biochar can help improve soil nutrient retention and plant growth, and it also reduces nitrogen leaching and runoff into surface water. Even though biochar is not a fertilizer, its high surface area, and charged surface make it an excellent soil addition. Because of this, it can absorb nutrients from the compost and reduce the use of commercial fertilizers.

Biochar is a carbon-based material made from pyrolysis, which requires low-oxygen temperatures. Common household waste such as paper and plastic can be turned into biochar with the help of a low-cost biochar stove. This initiative aims to help communities create thriving ecosystems that provide health and opportunity. It is also helpful for making carbon-based composites used in the construction of buildings. 

It reduces nitrous oxide emissions in soil.

Adding biochar to agricultural soils can reduce nitrous oxide emission, and N₂O is a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. The addition of biochar to agricultural soils reduces nitrous oxide emissions in soil by several different mechanisms. The first mechanism involves the co-denitrification of nitrogen by fungi. Using phylogenetic analysis, they discovered that biochar reduces nitrous oxide emissions in soil. Biochar reduces nitrous oxide emissions in soil by limiting the presence of fungi capable of reducing nitrogen.

It can be used to produce energy.

Biochar is one of the waste products produced by biochar production. This waste is organic and poses problems for sustainability. However, its use in the production of energy and other products is promising. The potential value of biochar must be matched with production capacity and demand. This balancing act is common in all business ventures, but it is strict with new and sustainable technologies. Before investing in its commercialization, it is essential to consider biochar production’s economic, environmental, and social aspects.

In general, the properties of biochar depend on the type of biomass used to make it. For example, woody biomass has a high carbon content, while manures and sewage sludge contain a low carbon content and high nutrients. Other factors that affect biochar’s performance include bulk density and surface area, pH value, and heavy metals. This material is most beneficial when made at lower temperatures. Biochar is highly reactive and can be used in many applications.

The thermochemical conversion of biomass produces a comprehensive carbonaceous product that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve soil fertility. Biochar can also be created for fuel and energy purposes, but the production impacts the product’s physicochemical properties. If biochar is produced at high temperatures, it exhibits high aromaticity and organized carbon layers, and biochar created at lower temperatures has numerous organic content and functional groups.