Presentation given at New York State Conference on the Environment. 2014

1. Climate Change, Adaptation &
Natural Resource Management
Kathleen Draper
ithaka institute for carbon intelligence Research | Education | Consulting
How Biochar Can Help

2. AGENDA
•what is biochar?
•biochar research
•how biochar can help fight & adapt to climate change
•biochar uses
•natural resource management & biomass optimization
•making biochar
•biochar’s triple bottom line
•biochar opportunities in New York

3. what is biochar? the Carbon family
Charcoal
Biochar
Activated Carbon
Feedstock
Hardwood, sawdust
+ Binding Agents
Ag, forestry & other organic materials/waste
Coconut shells, peat, coal, petroleum pitch
Common Uses
Fuel (Cooking)
Soil Amendment
Remediation
Filtration
Binding Agent (livestock)
Filtration
Odor Control
Remediation
Binding Agent (humans)
Relevant Qualities
Burnability
Low smoke
Adsorption/Porosity
CEC
Sequestration
Adsorption
Cost
$ - $$
$$
$$$
Production
Slow Pyrolysis;
Kiln
Slow Pyrolysis;
Kiln;
Gasification
Pyrolyzed at 600 – 900C + activated at 250C OR
Chemically impregnated & cooked @ 450 – 900C
Carbon Footprint
Carbon Neutral: May lead to Deforestation
Carbon Negative (in many situations)
Carbon Positive

4. Soils
Energy
Climate
Change
Animal Health
Remedi- ation
Other
BIOCHAR RESEARCH
Heat
Electricity
Syngas
Bio oils
Fuel Cells
Anaerobic Digesters
Restoration
Filtration
Mines
Marshes
Deserts
Wetlands
Building Materials
C Sequestration
NOX
Landfills
CH4
Toxin Binding Agent
Bedding
Odor Control
Manure Handling
Yield
Water Holding Capacity
Microbial Activity
Textiles
Food Preservation
Batteries
NPK
pH
CEC
Cosmetics
biochar research

5. mitigation & adaptation
Carbon Sequestration
Renewable Energy
Methane Reductions
•Livestock
•Landfills
Reduced Fertilizer Use
Waste Upcycling
Soil Resilience
Green Roofs
Sustainable
Agriculture
Food Security
Water Efficiency
Disaster Recovery
Building/Infrastructure
Vegetation Management
•Fire Control
•Invasive Species
how biochar can help climate change

6. Possible Benefits & Uses in Dairy Operations
1.1% biochar addition into feed as binding agent
•Improve feed conversion ratio
•Reduce methane emissions
•Reduce odors from manure
2.Combine biochar with manure
•Retains more nutrients during composting
•Stable C and enhanced nitrogen cycling
•Reduces nutrient leaching into eco-system
3.Use in anaerobic digestion to boost methane production
4.Filter dairy wastewater
5.Used as bedding material
6.Neutralize toxins from footbaths (e.g. copper)
biochar & dairy
biochar uses

7. biochar & viticulture
Possible benefits & uses in viticulture
1.Reduced seasonal inputs (e.g. carbon additions)
2.Improve yield consistency within a vineyard or block. 3. Improve hydraulic management of water drainage and water holding capacity of soil. 4. Boost YAN. 5. Enhance cation exchange capacity and nutrient retention. 6. Promote beneficial microbial activity in soils and pathogen suppression 7. Healthier root growth and transplant vigor. 8. Less labor intensive vineyard floor management 9. Better aggregate stability, buffering capacity, bulk density and reduce compaction. 10. Neutralize toxins in soils.
biochar uses

8. The Built Environment
Building Materials
Asphalt
3D Printing
biochar uses

9. Renewable Energy
Biomass Energy
Anaerobic Digestion,
Microbial Fuel Cells
biochar uses

10. Sustainable Packaging Filtration Micro-Beads
New Carbon Sinks
biochar uses

11. natural resource management
biomass optimization
Source: K. Wilson for World Bank

12. making biochar
Pyrolysis & Gasification

13. BIOCHAR’S
TRIPLE
BOTTOM
LINE
PLANET
PEOPLE
PROFIT
SUSTAINABLE
GROWTH
COST
SAVINGS
GREEN JOBS
ECO-
EFFICIENCY
FOOD
SECURITY
CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION & ADAPTATION
ECO-
SYSTEM
SERVICES
HEALTH
Soil resiliency,
H2O filtration, etc.
Industrial Ecology
Waste Optimization
Energy, tipping fees
RESILIENT
REGIONAL
ECONOMIES
ithaka institute for carbon intelligence Research | Education | Consulting

14. biochar opportunities
in new york state
•Agriculture
•Green Waste
•Disaster Recovery
•Landfills
•Sewage Treatment
•Invasive Species

15. any questions?
For more info:
www.biochar-journal.org
www.fingerlakesbiochar.com