[Gasification] biochar to sequester carbon

[Ken Calvert]

All O.K.on the biological side but what about the  cation exchange 
properties?  I thought that Tera preta was mainly about holding onto 
fertiliser molecules before they were leached out of the system?   Ken C.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Pels, J.R. (Jan)" <pels at ecn.nl>
To: "Discussion of biomass pyrolysis and gasification" 
<gasification at listserv.repp.org>
Sent: Tuesday, October 09, 2007 9:46 PM
Subject: Re: [Gasification] biochar to sequester carbon


> Dear List,
>
> As far as I understand the Terra Preta issue, it is basically the
> morphology of the char that is beneficial. The chemical composition of
> the char is not relevant. After pyrolysis or degassing an open structure
> is formed where microorganisms and fungi find a suitable place to live.
> They are improving soil quality by retaining water and nutrients. When
> made at low temperature the char retains much of its original biomass
> structure.
>
> Unfortunately, in high-temperature gasification, this structure is lost.
> Carbon-rich fly ash from gasification of biomass is composed of
> non-porous graphite-like particles and thus not functional in Terra
> Preta.
>
> Not all char is equal.
>
> Jan
>
>
> ========================================
> Dr. Jan R. Pels
> ECN - Biomass, Coals and Environmental Research
> P.O. Box 1, 1755 ZG Petten, The Netherlands
> telephone: +31-224-564884; fax: +31-224-568487
> mobile: +31-6-10923218
> e-mail: pels at ecn.nl
> ========================================
>
>
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: gasification-bounces at listserv.repp.org
>> [mailto:gasification-bounces at listserv.repp.org] On Behalf Of Tom Miles
>> Sent: Tuesday, October 09, 2007 5:56 AM
>> To: 'Discussion of biomass pyrolysis and gasification'
>> Subject: Re: [Gasification] biochar to sequester carbon
>>
>> Reg,
>>
>> Your find discussions of this an related articles on the
>> terra preta discussion list and website that we started in January.
>> http://terrapreta.bioenergylists.org/
>> http://bioenergylists.org/pipermail/terrapreta_bioenergylists.org/
>>
>> You will find links there for Cornell where Lehmann is and
>> other charcoal research. Some people on the discussion list
>> have started their own farm and garden tests of charcoal, on
>> arid soils in Guinea and Australia, on alkaline soils in
>> India, in China, "somewhere 20 miles south of Lake Erie,
>> USA," in a nursery in Washington, etc.
>>
>> We're all learning what the agronomic value of the charcoal
>> might be for different soils and plants. The results are not
>> yet clear. At best it would be a good use for char from gasifiers.
>>
>> Tom
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: gasification-bounces at listserv.repp.org
>> [mailto:gasification-bounces at listserv.repp.org] On Behalf Of
>> Reg Preston
>> Sent: Monday, October 08, 2007 12:43 AM
>> To: Discussion of biomass pyrolysis and gasification
>> Subject: [Gasification] biochar to sequester carbon
>>
>> http://www.biochar-international.org/images/Lehman_Handful_of_
>> C_-_Nature_5.9
>> .07.pdf
>>
>> I trust every one on the list has read this paper?  Comments
>> would be appreciated.
>>
>> Reg Preston
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Gasification mailing list
>> Gasification at listserv.repp.org
>> http://listserv.repp.org/mailman/listinfo/gasification_listser
>> v.repp.org
>> http://gasifiers.bioenergylists.org
>> http://info.bioenergylists.org
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Gasification mailing list
>> Gasification at listserv.repp.org
>> http://listserv.repp.org/mailman/listinfo/gasification_listser
>> v.repp.org
>> http://gasifiers.bioenergylists.org
>> http://info.bioenergylists.org
>>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Gasification mailing list
> Gasification at listserv.repp.org
> http://listserv.repp.org/mailman/listinfo/gasification_listserv.repp.org
> http://gasifiers.bioenergylists.org
> http://info.bioenergylists.org
>