Kosfeld Fenna Thesis - Flipbook - Page 120
Biochar as a Battery - Characteristiscs
“The biochar response to pyrolysis temperature degradation is different due to their inherent biopolymers and chemical composition
of feedstock type”( Huang)
So, depending on the feedstock, whether it is
animal-based ( rich in protein such as gelatin,
collagen, and polysaccharides), plant-based (
rich in cellulose, lignin, and hemicellulose),
or processed stock such as manure ( digested
cellulose and carbohydrates), the biochar will
have various properties and characteristics.
One thing that all Biochar shares is its high
porosity and ability to retain water and nutrients.
There are micropores (less than 2 nm in
diameter) and macropores (2-50 nm in diameter). Together, they form an incredibly large
surface area, which makes it function like a
battery that can be charged and added to an
environment, most commonly soil, to give off
its charge.
water absorbant/retending
smell absorbent
nutrient absorbant/ retending
reducing leaching
slow-release mechanism
昀椀ltration of heavy metals
increasing aeration
ph neutralising ( alkaline)
electrical conductivity
=The denser the feedstock material, the higher the porosity. The higher the temperature
the higher the porosity
microscopic image of micropores of woodchar
120