Carbon Dioxide Sequestration Assessment through Pyrogenic Biomass: Case for Turkey

Abstract

Global climate change driven by anthropogenic activities have diverted the attention on the development of the methods for atmospheric carbon dioxide capturing and sequestration, the so called negative emission technologies (NETs). Pyrolysis is one of the most environmentally friendly conversion technologies for waste disposal that are being developed to convert waste materials into energy and valuable products. Biochar is high carbon content pyrogenic solid material obtained by thermal degradation of biomass in an oxygen-free medium. High nutrients content in biochar makes it a suitable material for soil amendment purposes. Furthermore, biochar acts as a carbon sink to reduce atmospheric greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions thus can play a significant role in the control of environmental pollutants by carbon negative emissions. In this study, the carbon dioxide sequestration potential assessment of a wide range of biomass including agricultural residues, forestry residues, livestock manure and municipal solid waste (MSW) in Turkey have carried out. The results revealed that pyrogenic carbon bio-sequestration in Turkey is possible with negative emissions potential of biomass is 60.38 Mton CO2eq/year, which accounts for 16 % of the total annual carbon dioxide emission. Biochar is an untapped resource for emission abatement strategies.