All Biochars are Not Created Equal, and How to Tell Them Apart

IBI Conference Updates
Hugh McLaughlin, PhD, PE, Paul S. Anderson, PhD, Frank E. Shieldsand Thomas B. Reed, PhD

*After much expansion and refinement, the final copy (Version 2) of the "All Biochars..." paper has been released back to the NABC (North America Biochars Conference, Boulder Colorado, August 2009) for inclusion in their proceedings.*

### ABSTRACT ###

> The use of charcoal as a soil amendment and for CO2 sequestration raises many questions about the characteristics of those “biochars” and their impacts on soils and organisms. This paper reviews and revises the analyses of the principal characteristics used to distinguish biochars, and presents a small survey of measured properties. Explicit terminology is proposed about “resident and mobile carbon and other matter” in biochars intended for addition to soils rather than for use as a fuel. Specific data are presented for commercial lump charcoals and Top-Lit UpDraft (TLUD) charcoals. Easy methods for informal testing of chars are presented to determine several key biochar characteristics. The major conclusions are: 1) Currently available biochars vary significantly in key properties, 2) Great attention should be taken to know the characteristics of any charcoals being added to soils, and 3) Reports of the responses (whether favorable or unfavorable) of plants and soils to biochar applications are of questionable value without corresponding knowledge of the characteristics of the applied biochars

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The document has 36 pages including 17 figures and three main conclusions.
The contents are a blend of technical topics and basic/common sense comments, including some "do-it-yourself" methods about making and analyzing biochars. It is a "contribution," but is not intended to be all encompassing about biochar characteristics.

This document in either or both formats may be distributed to colleagues and (without alterations) may be placed onto Websites to facilitate distribution. We anticipate that

This was a group effort by co-authors McLaughlin, Anderson, Shields and Reed who welcome further discussion but who do not intend to alter this document.
Instead, we encourage others to present additional documents that give further progress to specific issues of interest.

On behalf of the co-authors,

Paul
--Paul S Anderson, Ph.D. -- aka Dr. TLUD ("Dr. Tee-lud") Biomass Energy Consultant with BEF, & Partner in Chip Energy.
Specialist in micro-gasification. Office & Res: 309-452-7072 www.chipenergy.com www.bioenergylists.org/andersontludconstruction