PHOTO: Bob Cirino, University of Delaware

1. Biochar Properties Energy Flow Sunlight Carbon Dioxide Soil Minerals Electric Charge + water = electrolytes the fire in water Biology chlorophyll photosynthesis carbohydrates SUGAR!! into Geology Cations Anions PHOTO: Bob Cirino, University of Delaware Sodium, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium Phosphorus, Sulfur, Chlorine Water S4700 3.0kV 11.9mm x 300 SEM 12/2/13 most Trace Elements Nitrogen, Boron, Iodine

2. PARADIGM SHIFT Biochar Properties Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) Soil Class CEC Soil as battery Sandy 3-5 Silt Loam 10-15 Heavy Clay 20-25 Store charge as ions (micropore adsorption) Store charge as electrons (carbon rings) Release charge to power growth Regulate charge level & polarity Source of charge? LED bulb Cation adsorption (positive ions) Huge capacity: micropore surfaces Increase CEC sharply (+20-50) Increase stored growth potential Easily available forms Adsorbed on micropore surfaces Retain nutrients in root zone Simple ion exchange with roots Reduce leaching (40-80%) Enhance microbial activity Efficient nutrient use by plants Reduce fertillizer applications Enhance growth of crops Higher crop nutrient content Sorption todetoxify & remediate Heavy metals Organic molecules lit by C C Corn Yield CEC corncob Where are the electrons? C C 80 bu 5 100 bu 7 120 bu 9 140 bu 11 160 bu 13 180 bu 16 biochar Cations add charge to battery Anions carry charge around in cell & plant Acid = H+ charge = electron deficient C C battery super- capacitor Electron adsorption capacity Charge carriers: electrons = negative Cellulose & micropores: charge conductor Carbon ring & electron cloud: capacitor Ions, membranes & biofilms: circuit board − e Soil conducivity − e Capacity to contain electrons Ability to pass electric current Cations Cation Exchange Capacity Anions Sodium, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium Phosphorus, Sulfur, Chlorine most Trace Elements Nitrogen, Boron, Iodine

3. Biochar Properties PARADIGM SHIFT Anion Exchange Capacity (AEC) Biochar & Phosphorus Study Quantify Phosphorus adsorption & availability: 1) corn stover (Zea mays L.) 2) pine wood residue (Pinus ponderosa) 3) switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.). Anionadsorption (negative ions) Huge capacity: micropores Unique ability among soil components Increase AEC tremendously (+10–20) Form nutrient reservoirs in soil matrix three very different physical & chemical properties Phosphorus adsorption corn stover highest - avg: 79%) switchgrass - avg: 76%) pine wood residue - avg: 31%) Available Phosphorus: % P adsorbed(bicarbonate extract) pine wood - avg: 43% highest switchgrass - avg: 33% corn stover - avg: 25% Biochar added to acid soil (at 40 g/kg = 4%) increased equilibrium P (reduced adsorption) increased available adsorbed P < Alkali biochar in calcareous soil (corn stover & switchgrass) significantly increased P adsorption decreased adsorbed P availability Nitrogen Major non-point water pollutant Half of US Hydrogen production Nitrogen into Amino Acids into Proteins Reduce nitrate leaching 40-80% Reduce NOx, NH4out-gassing: adsorption Nitrogen, Phosphorus & Microbes Nitrogen-cycle bacteria Free-living nitrogen-fixing bacteria Phosphorus, fungi & biochar Challenges to handle living cultures Probiotic: create microbe-friendly soil Reduce non-point pollution Curb eutrophication Phosphorus Peak Phosphorus: supply limited Major non-point water pollutant Phosphorus availability in soil UVM Burlington & Lake Champlain Phosphorus traps vs. broadcast “Charcoal surpasses all other substances in the power [to] condense ammonia within its pores… absorbs 90 times its volume of ammonia gas, which separates by simple moistening by water.” −Justus Liebig, father of chemical fertilizers Toxic Algae Blooms Lake Erie 2013 Phosphate & Nitrate Pollution Cation Exchange Capacity Anion Exchange Capacity Sodium, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium Phosphorus Phosphorus, Sulfur, Chlorine most Trace Elements Nitrogen Nitrogen, Boron, Iodine

4. Biochar Properties pH What is pH? What [ in the H ] is pH? Electric balance between + &− Similar to voltage in electricity Balance: Acid (H+) & Alkali (OH-) Balance: The Neutral Zone Balance: Cations (+) Soil nutrients, plant sap, human blood = Anions (−) The Neutral Zone 7.45 human blood 6.4 ideal plant sap • Acid (H+) • Alkali(OH-) xtreme very strong mild mild strong very xtreme 8.0 9.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 7.0 10.0 11.0 −1 −2 +4 +3 +2 +1 0 −3 −4 Cation Exchange Capacity Anion Exchange Capacity Sodium, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium Phosphorus, Sulfur, Chlorine most Trace Elements Nitrogen, Boron, Iodine

5. Biochar Properties pH What is pH? Electric balance between + & − Similar to voltage in electricity Balance: Acid (H+) + Alkali (OH-) Balance: The Neutral Zone Balance: Cations (+) = Anions (−) Soil nutrients, plant sap, human blood Varies Slow Pyrolysis with feedstock with production process with post-production process char made with steam at 475°C tend to be acid (carboxyl) Fast Pyrolysis Biochar is pH buffer char made without steam at 500°C Stable pH: prime function of biology Adsorbs excess ions Flywheel effect for ion balance Balanced electric charges Store, distribute & share energy tend to be slightly basic Gasification char produced with steam at 700°C tend to be very basic make good lime agents Cation Exchange Capacity Anion Exchange Capacity Sodium, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium Phosphorus, Sulfur, Chlorine most Trace Elements Nitrogen, Boron, Iodine

6. Using Biochar in Soil Steps to Prepare Biochar The 4M’s Moisten Fresh char is bone dry and sterile Hydrophobic, due to tar & resin residues Excess moisture is also trouble • Moisten Micronize Maximize surface area • Micronize Rice grain size, down to dust Grind, crush, screen Weedy vs. woody feedstocks Water-soluble, low-weight carbons Mineralize Mineralize Huge internal adsorption capacity High efficiency delivery of nutrients • Microbial • Inoculation Charge with sea minerals (trace elements) Major Cations (Ca, Mg, K) & Anions (N, P, S) MicrobialInoculation Encourage colonization by microbes Simplest method: blend with compost Commercial cultures: BD preps, EM, SCD BioAg, Trichoderma, Mycorrhizae…..