Biochar for environmental management
Johannes Lehmann, Stephen Joseph
Abstract
Biochar is the product of heating biomass in the absence of or with limited air to above 250°C, a process called pyrolysis also used for making charcoal. Biochars can have very different properties, with the defining feature of a high proportion of fused aromatic ring structures that make the organic portion of biochars C-richer than what it was made from. This chapter defines biochar, recommends nomenclature around biochar materials, explains the basic features of biochar systems, and sketches the current state of biochar research, development, and deployment. Material properties of biochars and their effects in the intended use are typically investigated the most, by now going beyond soil amendments and including biomaterials, animal feed, or remediation among other environmental applications. Yet systems aspects of biochar approaches are even more important when evaluating broad environmental, social, and economic impacts. Thereby, this chapter outlines the different topic areas of the entire book to introduce the reader to the multifaceted aspects of biochar.