8/12/2019 Individual Paper Proposal for Biochar Literature Review

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Susan Chen

Individual Paper Review Proposal

Topic: Pyrolysis Product Biochar and Its Applications

Anthropogenic carbon emission is considered to be a significant contribution to globalclimate change. In order to combat this issue, Cornell University has pledged to achieve climateneutrality by 2050 through its Climate Action Plan (CAP). As an extension of the CAP, the

Cornell University Renewable Bioenergy Initiative (CURBI) is researching the feasibility of

different biomass conversion technologies. One of the technologies proposed by CURBI is slowpyrolysis, which produces biogas, bio-oil, and biochar. Slow pyrolysis can yield approximately

35% biochar1, with varying yield rations dependent on feedstock composition and process

parameters. Much research has been done on biochar properties due to its positive environmental

impact as a soil amendment. Biochar is the only carbon-negative product of pyrolysis due to itsability to sequester carbon.

2In addition, studies have also shown that biochar addition to soil can

facilitate remediation as well as increase soil productivity. The Individual Paper Review will

discuss in-depth the characterization and composition of biochar, as well as its variousapplications and environmental impacts. Selected topics that will be covered in more detail in the

review summarized below.

Biochar is most noted for its carbon storage capacity. Biochar is composed of organic

matter and will slowly decompose and release carbon dioxide. This rate is much slower than therate at which CO2 is released by other organic carbon forms in soil.

3 This results in a net

withdrawal of CO2from the atmosphere. Up to 5.5 to 9.5 gigatons of carbon can be sequestered

globally, potentially offsetting all current anthropogenic fossil fuel emissions.4Sustainable

production of biochar and addition to soil can potentially reduce emissions by 1.8 Pg annually,

at current levels of feedstock availability, while preserving biodiversity, ecosystem stability and

food security.5In addition to carbon storage, biochar can also reduce NOxemissions. A study

completed by Rondon et al. discovered 80% NOx

emission reductions as well as completesuppression of methane emissions with biochar addition.6

Biochar amendment to soil can have positive impacts to crop yields. A study performed

on pot grown lettuce and cabbage found that biochar addition to soil resulted in a much higherproductivity than non-fertilized soil.

7Depending on the temperature of pyrolysis, biochar

produced will have different characteristics. Low-temperature biochar can enhance rapid nutrient

availability and high-temperature biochar can bind soil carbon and other nutrients in the long

1Bridgwater, A. (2011). Review of Fast Pyrolysis of Biomass and Product Upgrading. Biomass and Bioenergy, 38, 69-94.2Lehmann, J. (2007). Bio-energy in the black. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, preprint(2007), 1.

3Baldock, J. A., & Smernik, R. J. (2002). Chemical composition and bioavailability of thermally alteredPinus resinosa(Redpine) wood. Organic Geochemistry, 33(9), 1093-1109.4Lehmann, J., Gaunt, J., & Rondon, M. (2006). Bio-char Sequestration in Terrestrial EcosystemsA Review. Mitigation andAdaptation Strategies for Global Change, 11(2), 395-419.5Woolf, D., Amonette, J. E., Street-Perrott, F. A., Lehmann, J., & Joseph, S. (2010). Sustainable biochar to mitigate global

climate change. Nature Communications, 1(5), 1-9.6Rondon M, Ramirez J.A., and Lehmann J. (2005). Charcoal additions reduce net emissions of greenhouse gases to theatmosphere, inProceedings of the Third USDA Symposium on Greenhouse Gases and Carbon Sequestration, Baltimore, MD,21-24 March 2005, p208.7Carter, S., Shackley, S., Sohi, S., Suy, T., & Haefele, S. (2013). The Impact of Biochar Application on Soil Properties and PlantGrowth of Pot Grown Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) and Cabbage (Brassica chinensis). Agronomy, 3(2), 404-418

8/12/2019 Individual Paper Proposal for Biochar Literature Review

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run.8Biochar is alkaline and can neutralize acidic soils, providing an environment conducive to

crop growth.9

Biochar application can also be used as a method of soil remediation. The improvednutrient retention of soil enriched with biochar can reduce nutrient leaching into waters, and

reduce potential eutrophication. Pyrolyzing residues from agriculture, anaerobic digesters, and

industrial waste streams can recycle nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and minerals backinto the soil for agricultural productivity. Caution must be exercised when considering pyrolysisof waste streams due to likelihood of contamination by heavy metals.

10Heavy metals cannot be

degraded by soil microbes and will have a negative environmental impact.

8Mukherjee, A., & Lal, R. (2013). Biochar Impacts on Soil Physical Properties and Greenhouse Gas Emissions. Agronomy, 3(2),

313-339.9Lehmann, J., Rillig, M. C., Thies, J., Masiello, C. A., Hockaday, W. C., & Crowley, D. (2011). Biochar effects on soil biota Areview. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 43(9), 1812-1836.10Beesley, L., Moreno-Jimnez, E., Gomez-Eyles, J. L., Harris, E., Robinson, B., & Sizmur, T. (2011). A review of biochars

potential role in the remediation, revegetation and restoration of contaminated soils. Environmental Pollution, 159(12), 3269-3282.