Comprehensive review on production and utilization of biochar

Abstract

The on-farm burning of crop residues and biomass results in numerous environmental issues and affects human beings. Crop residues have considerable energy potential if utilized appropriately. Crop residues can be converted into biochar through thermo-chemical routes; conversion helps in the managing and handling of biomass. Biochar reactors usually operate at temperatures between 400 and 600 °C with fixed carbon contents ranging from 60 to 85%. The application of this biochar to soil improves the physiochemical characteristics of soil because biochar is rich in organic carbon content, which makes the soil more fertile and acts as a carbon sequestration agent over the long term. Biochar itself is considered a source nutrient and can alter the soil nutrient pools and availability. Biochar applied up to 10 cm depth of soil may decrease the denitrification potential and lower N 2 O emission, greatly controlling leaching of mobile nutrients such as potassium, thus improving water use efficiency, nutrient availability and plant growth. Furthermore, it reduces the leaching of nitrogen into the groundwater and increases the water retention and cation-exchange capacity while moderating the soil's acidity, resulting in improved soil fertility. This article discusses different biochar production processes and various feedstocks and characteristics of biochar. The factors affecting biochar production and advantages of the utilization of biochar in soil are also reviewed.

Biochar’s effect on the ecosystem services provided by sandy-textured and contaminated sandy soils: a systematic review protocol

“…Biochar is usually attained through pyrolysis of different types of organic feedstock, precisely biomass materials (plantations that produce energy crops, natural vegetable growth, organic wastes and residues (animal wastes, forest residue, agricultural residue, etc.) [19]) in varying pyrolysis degrees [16]. The conceptual paper titled "A handful of carbon" by Johannes Lehmann, published in 2007, was a turning point in biochar-related research [15].…”

Dioxin and dibenzofuran like molecular analogues from the pyrolysis of biomass materials—the emerging challenge in bio-oil production

“…Among other conventional industrial uses such as purification of water; the major use of biochar is soil amendment, thus slowly replacing artificial fertilizers which are not environmentally friendly [27]. For this reason therefore, the production of biochar from biomass degradation is not only of economic significance but also plays an important role in carbon sequestration to maintain carbon balance and mitigate against global warming and environmental degradation [28].…”

An Overview of Biochar Production and Biochar Producing Stoves in Bangladesh

“…Pyrolyzation of the biomass results in bio-oil and biochar. Carbonization is a slow pyrolysis process that has been in use for thousands of years, and its main goal is the production of biochar (Panwar et al, 2019). The choice of feedstock biomass for biochar production depends on local availability of material and cost of acquisition including carrying costs.…”