EVERYTHING YOU ever WANTED to KNOW about BIOCHAR 🔥

Summary

This video script offers an accessible explanation of biochar, a type of charcoal made from biomass through pyrolysis. It highlights the process's distinction from combustion due to the absence of oxygen, resulting in a pure carbon product. Biochar's high porosity makes it valuable for soil and water remediation, attracting nutrients to improve soil quality. The script also discusses the importance of inoculating biochar to prevent nutrient depletion in plants, and suggests methods for doing so, such as using it in compost piles or as chicken coop bedding.

Takeaways

• 🌿 Biochar is a type of charcoal created from biomass through pyrolysis, a process of thermal decomposition in the absence of oxygen.
• 🔥 The difference between pyrolysis and combustion is oxygen; pyrolysis occurs without oxygen, leading to a pure form of carbon, while combustion requires oxygen and results in ash.
• 🌳 Biomass, such as wood, is commonly used to make biochar, but any recently living organic material can be converted into char.
• ♻️ Biochar has been used for over 2500 years, with its origins in the Amazon basin where it contributed to the creation of nutrient-rich Terra Preta soil.
• 💧 Biochar's high porosity allows it to have a large surface area, which can be equivalent to half an acre, making it effective for soil and water remediation.
• ⚖️ Biochar is environmentally friendly, capable of sequestering carbon and turning waste into a beneficial soil amendment.
• 🔨 Crushing biochar to a quarter inch or smaller is an important step to increase its surface area and effectiveness when used as a soil amendment.
• 🌱 Inoculating or preloading biochar with nutrients is crucial before adding it to soil to prevent it from drawing nutrients away from plants.
• 🐔 The speaker has found success using biochar as livestock bedding in chicken coops, which helps absorb nutrients and reduce odor.
• 🔗 The speaker recommends watching more videos on the topic for a deeper understanding of biochar production and usage.

Q & A

What is biochar?

Biochar is a type of charcoal created from biomass through the process of pyrolysis. It is a very pure form of carbon resulting from the thermal decomposition of organic material in the absence of oxygen.

What is biomass?

Biomass refers to living or recently living organic material. In the context of making biochar, wood is commonly used as the biomass source.

How is biochar different from regular charcoal produced in a fireplace?

Biochar is produced through pyrolysis, a process that involves thermal decomposition in the absence of oxygen, resulting in a very pure form of carbon. Regular charcoal from a fireplace is produced through combustion, which involves oxygen and leaves behind ash and other byproducts.

What is the significance of the fire triangle in relation to biochar production?

The fire triangle consists of heat, fuel, and oxygen. For a fire to occur, all three elements are needed. In biochar production, the process of pyrolysis removes oxygen, preventing combustion and resulting in pure carbon.

What is the biochar retort and why is it preferred in the script?

The biochar retort is a system used for creating biochar. It is preferred in the script because it is hands-off, allowing the creator to light the system and return the next day to collect high-quality char with minimal interaction.

What is Terra Preta and how is it related to biochar?

Terra Preta, or black Earth, is a dark, rich, fertile soil with nutrient and water-retentive qualities, discovered over 2500 years ago in the Amazon basin. It is related to biochar because it is believed to have been created through the application of biochar by indigenous people.

Why is biochar considered environmentally friendly?

Biochar is environmentally friendly because it can sequester carbon that would otherwise decompose or end up in a landfill. It also improves soil quality and can be used to remediate soil and water.

What is the importance of porosity in biochar?

Biochar has an incredible amount of porosity, with one gram of well-made biochar having a surface area equivalent to half an acre. This allows it to attract and retain positively charged chemicals and nutrients, which is useful for soil and water remediation.

Why is it necessary to crush biochar before using it in soil?

Crushing biochar increases its surface area and makes it easier for the pores to be filled with nutrients, preventing it from competing with plants for those nutrients when used as a soil amendment.

What is the process of inoculating biochar and why is it important?

Inoculating biochar involves filling its pore space with organic matter to prevent it from drawing nutrients away from plants. This is important because a 'blank slate' biochar can negatively affect plant growth by absorbing nutrients needed by the plants.

How can biochar be made hydrophobic and what is the significance of reducing this property?

Biochar can become hydrophobic due to the solidification of tar and resin on its surface during cooling. Reducing this hydrophobic property is significant because it allows the biochar to absorb water and nutrients more effectively when used in soil amendments.

Outlines

00:00

🔥 Understanding Biochar: Creation and Basics

This paragraph introduces biochar as a form of charcoal derived from biomass through pyrolysis, a process of thermal decomposition in the absence of oxygen. The speaker clarifies that biomass refers to living or recently living organic material, commonly wood, which is heated to its ignition temperature to produce biochar. The process differs from combustion, which requires oxygen and results in a fire. Biochar is described as a pure form of carbon with some residual oil and tars. The speaker shares their experiences with various methods of creating biochar, including the biochar retort, which they find to be a hands-off and successful method. The historical context of biochar's use in the Amazon basin over 2500 years ago is also mentioned, highlighting its ancient origins.

05:03

🌱 Biochar's Environmental and Agricultural Uses

The second paragraph delves into the environmental benefits and agricultural applications of biochar. It is noted for its high porosity, with one gram of biochar having a surface area equivalent to half an acre. This characteristic makes it effective for soil and water remediation, as it can attract and retain positively charged chemicals and nutrients. The speaker emphasizes the importance of pre-loading or inoculating biochar before adding it to soil to prevent it from drawing nutrients away from plants. Various methods for inoculation are suggested, including using compost or livestock bedding. The paragraph also touches on the hydrophobic nature of biochar due to its tar and resin content, and the need to reduce this property by introducing it to water. The speaker shares their personal methods of inoculation, such as using biochar in compost piles and chicken coops, and encourages viewers to explore more about biochar through provided video resources.

Keywords

💡Biochar

Biochar is a type of charcoal that is created from biomass through a process called pyrolysis. It is a central theme of the video, as it is explained to be a sustainable and environmentally friendly material. The video script discusses how biochar is made from organic materials like wood, which undergoes thermal decomposition in the absence of oxygen, resulting in a pure form of carbon. This process is highlighted as a key distinction from traditional combustion, which requires oxygen and results in ash. Biochar is also noted for its high porosity and surface area, which can be as large as half an acre per gram, making it useful for soil and water remediation.

💡Pyrolysis

Pyrolysis is the thermochemical decomposition of organic material at elevated temperatures in the absence of oxygen. It is a key process in the creation of biochar, as explained in the video. The script describes how biomass, such as wood, is heated to its ignition temperature during pyrolysis, driving off volatile gases and leaving behind a pure form of carbon, which is biochar. This process is contrasted with combustion, which involves oxygen and results in ash, whereas pyrolysis does not.

💡Biomass

Biomass refers to living or recently living organic material that can be used as a source of energy or for the production of biochar. In the context of the video, biomass is primarily wood, which is used as the primary feedstock for pyrolysis to create biochar. The script mentions that various substances that were once living could be used to make biochar, emphasizing the versatility of biomass as a resource.

💡Combustion

Combustion is a chemical reaction that occurs between a fuel and an oxidant, producing heat and light in the form of a flame. The video script contrasts combustion with pyrolysis, explaining that combustion requires oxygen and results in ash, whereas pyrolysis occurs in the absence of oxygen and results in biochar. The script uses the concept of the 'fire triangle' (heat, fuel, and oxygen) to illustrate the difference, noting that removing oxygen from the equation during pyrolysis prevents combustion and leads to the creation of biochar.

💡Thermal Decomposition

Thermal decomposition is the process by which a substance breaks down due to heat. In the video, this term is used to describe what happens to the biomass during pyrolysis, where the material is heated to the point that it decomposes, driving off volatile gases and leaving behind biochar. The script emphasizes that this decomposition occurs without oxygen, which is a critical factor in the production of biochar.

💡Porosity

Porosity refers to the ability of a material to contain or allow passage of fluids or gases, often through small pores or cavities. The video script highlights the high porosity of biochar, noting that one gram of well-made biochar has a surface area equivalent to half an acre. This characteristic makes biochar particularly useful for soil and water remediation, as it can attract and retain positively charged chemicals and nutrients.

💡Terra Preta

Terra Preta, or 'black earth' in Portuguese, refers to the dark, nutrient-rich soil found in the Amazon basin. The video script mentions that biochar has its origins in Terra Preta, which was created by indigenous people over 2500 years ago. This soil is known for its water and nutrient retention qualities, making it highly fertile for agriculture. The script connects the historical use of biochar in Terra Preta to its modern applications in soil enhancement.

💡Inoculation

Inoculation, in the context of the video, refers to the process of introducing beneficial microorganisms or nutrients to biochar before it is added to soil. The script explains that biochar is a 'blank slate' with high absorbency, and if added directly to soil, it could draw nutrients away from plants. Therefore, it is important to 'inoculate' or preload the biochar with materials like compost or manure to ensure it does not compete with plants for nutrients.

💡Hydrophobic

Hydrophobic refers to the property of a substance that repels water. The video script mentions that biochar has a hydrophobic surface due to the cooling of tar and resin during pyrolysis. This property is undesirable for soil amendment because it can prevent the biochar from absorbing water and nutrients. The script suggests methods to reduce this hydrophobicity, such as introducing the biochar to water or compost, which is essential for its successful use in soil amendment.

💡Retort

A retort is a type of kiln or furnace used for high-temperature processes, such as pyrolysis. The video script discusses the use of a 'biochar retort' as the preferred method for creating biochar by the video's presenter. The retort is described as a hands-off system where the biomass is heated to create biochar, which can be collected the next day. This method is highlighted for its efficiency and the high quality of the biochar produced.

Highlights

Biochar is charcoal made from biomass through pyrolysis, a thermal decomposition process.

Biomass refers to living or recently living organic material, commonly wood for biochar production.

Pyrolysis is a process that occurs in the absence of oxygen, unlike combustion.

The absence of oxygen during pyrolysis results in a pure form of carbon known as biochar.

Biochar production can be hands-off, with systems like the biochar retort allowing for minimal interaction.

Kilns are another closed system option for pyrolysizing wood to produce biochar.

Biochar has origins dating back over 2500 years to the Amazon basin's Terra Preta.

Terra Preta is known for its nutrient and water retentive qualities, beneficial for plant growth.

Biochar's high porosity gives it a large surface area, equivalent to half an acre per gram.

Biochar can remediate soil and water by attracting and retaining positively charged chemicals and nutrients.

Biochar is environmentally friendly and can sequester carbon for thousands of years.

Before using biochar in soil, it should be crushed and inoculated to prevent nutrient competition.

Inoculation can be done with various materials, filling the pore space to reduce the biochar's thirst for nutrients.

Biochar can be made hydrophobic by cooling tar and resin, which is important to counteract for soil use.

Inoculating biochar can be achieved by adding it to compost piles or using it as livestock bedding.

Using biochar in chicken coops can absorb nutrients from manure and reduce odor.

Transcripts

have you ever wanted to know what

biochar is and then you've attempted to

look it up or had somebody try to

explain it to you in very scientific

terms and your eyes just gloss over I'm

going to explain to you in layman's

terms what it is how it's made and the

things that it can be used for

stick around

so what is biochar it's just charcoal

it's charcoal that's been created from

biomass through the process of pyrolysis

biomass is nothing more than living or

recently living organic material in the

case of making biochar quite commonly

what is used as wood but many different

substances that were once living could

easily be made into char

there's a number of different

thermochemical conversion processes used

in making biochar however the vast

majority utilizing wood as a biomass is

made with the process of pyrolysis so

what's happening when we make biochar

this material undergoes a form of

thermal decomposition it's decomposing

due to the heat that's being applied and

that process is called pyrolysis I'm

going to explain now the difference

between pyrolysis and combustion and

what makes this different from what you

get out of your wood stove or your

fireplace organic material undergoing

the process of pyrolysis and you'll be

left with this

organic material undergoing the process

of combustion

and you'll be left with this what's the

difference the difference between these

two is that this has undergone that

thermal decomposition in the absence of

oxygen so in order for a fire to occur

you need three things it's called the

fire triangle you've got heat you've got

fuel

and then you've got oxygen if you remove

any one of those three things of the

triangle a fire cannot occur this needs

that third element and it doesn't have

that it's got the heat the fuel exists

but there's no Oxygen so this can no

longer burn and what you're left with is

you're left with a very very pure form

of carbon now there are going to be some

residual oil and some residual tars and

things like that but essentially this is

very very pure so what's happened in

this instance is that this has been

heated to its ignition temperature when

it reaches that ignition temperature it

starts to off gas and it starts to drive

off all of the volatile gases that are

flammable

I've experimented with and had some

limited success with some of the

different processes that are out there

where you build a pile burn it from the

top down and before it turns to Ash you

want to go ahead and quench it and then

extract your charcoal from there I've

experimented with the cone pit I've

experimented with the trench method

however the system that I've currently

had a lot of success with and I've

settled on is the biochar retort if

learning more about that system

interests you I'll put a link in the

description directing you to some of the

videos I've made on how that system was

designed and how it operates the thing I

like about the system that I'm currently

using is it's very hands-off I can

essentially light the system come back

the next day and I've got high quality

Char and I've had very limited

interaction with it from the point at

which I light it to the point where I go

ahead and collect it I do not have any

experience using a kiln but I thought I

would mention it in the context of this

video as another option of a closed

system that is used quite commonly for

pyrolysizing wood for biochar

I think it's important to note that

biochar got its start more than 2500

years ago in the Amazon basin the

indigenous people in that area at the

time had discovered this dark Rich

fertile soil that had nutrient and water

retentive qualities highly sought after

for growing plant matter it's called

Terra Preta or black Earth in Portuguese

and aside from its moisture retentive

and soil building qualities it has a lot

of other specific uses and I'd like to

go ahead and highlight those now one of

the very unique things about biochar is

just it has an incredible amount of

porosity the surface area of one gram of

well-made biochar is said to be

equivalent to a half of an acre or 2 000

square meters

foreign

uses of this is to remediate both Soil

and Water

biochar is negatively charged so it's

going to attract positively charged

chemicals and or nutrients it's going to

draw those elements into the Char and

it'll be retained I think that's pretty

cool about biochar is just that it's

environmentally friendly this piece of

char

could potentially be around for

thousands of more years it's a really

effective way to take a waste stream

something that would ordinarily either

go into a landfill or just naturally

decompose into the atmosphere and

sequester it in a way that it does

something beneficial by putting back

into the Earth

before inoculation

Char in this form needs to be crushed

and ideally it needs to be crushed down

to

a quarter inch in diameter

or smaller

crushing is another important step but

it takes time and I generally do it in

kind of more of a passive way where I

will either crush it in the wheelbarrow

or I will put this in a feed sack and

then walk on top of the feed sack I've

created a video detailing that process

I'll put a link as well into the

description one thing that's very

important that you do before you add

this to your your soil as an amendment

is that you pre-load it or you inoculate

it it's very important that you do that

because again this is a blank slate this

is very very absorbent with all that

poor space and what it's going to do is

it's going to have a negative effect if

you take something like this and put

this directly into the soil it's going

to actually draw nutrients away from the

plants who are competing for those

nutrients here's a list of some of the

items that may be used to inoculate your

char it's not as important on which of

these items that you choose but it's

important that you choose one of them

essentially what you're doing is you're

filling up that pore space with

something so that that pore space isn't

going to be thirsty for the nutrient and

competing against the plants that you're

trying to grow a natural byproduct of

this process is when this cools tar and

resin will solidify on its surface

essentially making it hydrophobic

meaning that it will not absorb water so

it's very important to try to get that

hydrophobic property lessened or

completely eliminated by introducing it

to water I typically don't worry too

much about that issue because it's going

to remain in this compost yard this Char

that I've crushed is going to wind up

being in the chicken yard and it's going

to have plenty of time for all of those

resins and oils and tars to break down

and then the inoculation process is

going to take place it's going to be in

that compost absorbing nutrient from the

compost that's been generated in that

yard for at least two months the two

primary ways that I inoculate my Char is

put it directly into the compost piles

or I'll utilize it as livestock bedding

within my chicken coops utilizing the

Char in the bedding areas of my chicken

coop has a couple of different benefits

it's going to absorb the nutrient from

their manure but it's also going to

absorb and reduce the amount of odor

that comes from that manure

they seem to like it quite a bit

if you're interested in learning more

about biochar click now to enter my

video playlist