water absorption biochar properties micropore sponge tar & resin residues soil water filtration...

Water AbsorptionBiochar PropertiesBiochar Properties

Micropore Sponge

Tar & Resin Residues

Soil Water Filtration

Immense internal capacitySoil porosity & permeabilityGradual releaseKeeps soil wetterKeeps microbiology active in drought

Black specks, shiny in sunlightOily hydrocarbonsInitially hydrophobicVOC and PAH: multi-ring carbons Carbon-ring candy: feast for microbes

Absorption, followed by adsorptionWater quality in watershedsRole of microbes in filtration and Soil Food WebSand Biofilter + Biochar

Ion AdsorptionIon AdsorptionAdsorbAdsorb (verb) (verb) Physical ChemistryPhysical Chemistry to gather on a surface in a condensed layerto gather on a surface in a condensed layerAdsorb:

charcoal will adsorb gases

Adhesion of atoms, ions or molecules Adhesion of atoms, ions or molecules from a gas, liquid or dissolved solid from a gas, liquid or dissolved solid to create a film on a surface of the adsorbent.to create a film on a surface of the adsorbent.

Adsorb

(gas, liquid, or dissolved solid)(gas, liquid, or dissolved solid)

Adsorption is a surface process.

Absorption involves the whole volume of material.

Sorption applies to both processes.

Desorption is the reverse of adsorption, and is thus a surface phenomenon.

This differs from This differs from AAbbsorptionsorption, , where a fluid permeates or is dissolved by or into a solid,where a fluid permeates or is dissolved by or into a solid,such as: such as: water is awater is abbsorbed by a spongesorbed by a sponge. .

d

Biochar PropertiesBiochar Properties

CationsCations are made when atoms give up one or more electrons are made when atoms give up one or more electronsCations

Oxygen becomes a mild negative (−) chargeHydrogens each have a slight positive (+) charge

−+

AAddsorbsorb (verb) (verb) Physical ChemistryPhysical Chemistry to gather on a surface in a condensed layer:to gather on a surface in a condensed layer:

Each element has different attraction for electrons

Cations (+) Anions (−)

Nitrogen, Boron, IodinePhosphorus, Sulfur, ChlorineSodium, Potassium, Calcium,

Magnesiummost Trace Elements

Hydrogen has a weak attraction for electronsOxygen has a strong attraction for electrons

Typically, Typically, AAddsorptionsorption is an electric attraction between atoms and molecules is an electric attraction between atoms and moleculesquite different from Absorption

AnionsAnions form when atoms gain one or more electrons form when atoms gain one or more electronsand thus have a and thus have a positive (+)positive (+) charge charge

+

and thus have a and thus have a negative (−)negative (−) charge charge

In a water molecule, Hydrogen yields its electronOxygen attracts two electrons

Thus, a water molecule has an electric polarity,

−

H2Owatermolecule

Anions

Ion AdsorptionIon AdsorptionBiochar PropertiesBiochar Properties

hydrogenbond

−

+

AAddsorbsorb (verb) (verb) Physical ChemistryPhysical Chemistry to gather on a surface in a condensed layer:to gather on a surface in a condensed layer:Typically, Typically, AdsorptionAdsorption is an electric attraction between atoms and molecules is an electric attraction between atoms and molecules

H2Owatermolecule

+−

An An HH22O waterO water molecule is not an molecule is not an IonIon, ,

protons +protons + − − electronselectrons==because it has no net electric chargebecause it has no net electric charge

But But waterwater molecules do have electric polarity, molecules do have electric polarity,and attract ions and other polarized molecules

including other water molecules.with opposite electric charge,

A useful example of attraction between polarized moleculesis the “hydrogen bond” between adjacent water molecules.

Hydrogen bonds make water “wet” and stick to itself.This slight electric attraction makes water a great solvent,and gives water structure as a “liquid crystal.” +

+−−

Cations (+)Cations (+) Anions (−)Anions (−)

Nitrogen, Boron, IodineNitrogen, Boron, IodinePhosphorus, Sulfur, ChlorinePhosphorus, Sulfur, ChlorineSodium, Potassium, Calcium, MagnesiumSodium, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium

most Trace Elementsmost Trace Elements

DeoxyriboNucleic Acid

balancebalance==


Humic substance

C27O20Hx

very low molecular weight

AAddsorbsorb (verb) (verb) Physical ChemistryPhysical Chemistry to gather on a surface in a condensed layer:to gather on a surface in a condensed layer:Typically, Typically, AdsorptionAdsorption is an electric attraction between atoms and molecules is an electric attraction between atoms and molecules

Humus and biochar moleculesHumus and biochar molecules

These are very large molecules

This attraction quickly gets much more complex with biocarbon moleculesThis attraction quickly gets much more complex with biocarbon molecules

consist of tens, hundreds, consist of tens, hundreds,

Nitrogenswith multiple carbon rings,

and embedded mineral Ions.

Each ring, Nitrogen, Oxygen, andmineral Ion is an electric chargeon the surface of the molecule.

even thousands of carbons.even thousands of carbons.

Each charge site will attract andadsorb Ions of opposite polarity.

and Oxygens,

Humic substance

C72O33N4Hx+ 2Rlow molecular weight

+

− −

−

−−

−− −

−− −

+

+

+

++

+−

−

−−

−−

−−

−−

−− −−

−





−−

−

−− −−

−

+

−−

++

++

− −

−−

−−−

+

−−

−−− −

−+

− −

Adsorb (verb) Physical Chemistry to gather on a surface in a condensed layer:Typically, Adsorption is an electric attraction between atoms and moleculesThis attraction quickly gets much more complex with biocarbon molecules

Humic substance

C72O33N4Hx+ 2Rlow molecular weight

Biochar micropores provide a hugeBiochar micropores provide a hugeinternal internal IonIon aaddsorptionsorption capacity, capacity,hundreds, even thousands timeshundreds, even thousands timesgreater than other soil substances.greater than other soil substances.

Thus, charcoal is an ideal mediato filter and purify water.

Biochar’s advantage is to adsorbboth Cations (+) and Anions

(−),Including Nitrogen & Phosphorus.Nitrogen Phosphorus

Simple mineral ions

Complex organic ions

Nitrogen, Boron, Iodine


Nitrogen, Boron, IodineNitrogen, Boron, Iodine

Sodium, Potassium, Calcium, MagnesiumSodium, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesiummost Trace Elementsmost Trace Elements

PhosphorusPhosphorus, Sulfur, Chlorine, Sulfur, ChlorinePhosphorus, Sulfur, ChlorinePhosphorus, Sulfur, Chlorine


CharcoalCharcoalCharcoalCharcoal

WaterWaterWaterWater

NutrientNutrientSolutionSolution

MiracleMiracleGroGro

fertilizerfertilizer

concentratedconcentratedweakweak

Nutrientsadsorped+

CationsCations & & AnionsAnions are attracted to electric charges on char particles are attracted to electric charges on char particles

Microbes can free elements chemically bound in soil and rocks

Pure water run thru all day barely affects ion concentrations,

and gradually removed from the soil-water solution.and gradually removed from the soil-water solution.

by an active digestive process different from exchanging ions.

Adsorped Adsorped ionsions are loosely held, not bonded are loosely held, not bonded

Hydrometer

pumppump

Charcoal adsorption removes and neutralizes toxic chemicals

This electric attraction is like water’s This electric attraction is like water’s hydrogen bondhydrogen bond

AAddsorbsorb (verb) (verb) Physical ChemistryPhysical Chemistry to gather on a surface in a condensed layer:to gather on a surface in a condensed layer:

CCation ation EExchange xchange CCapacityapacity AAnion nion EExchange xchange CCapacityapacity

Slowly, the ion concentration in solution will drop

because ions are adsorped onto and into char particles, and held.

Adsorption also holds nutrient ions safely in soil





H+ traded for nutrient ions

water absorption biochar properties micropore sponge tar & resin residues soil water filtration...

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biochar molecules

adjacent water molecules

adsorption water quality

water structure

water wet

soilwater solution

cations anions

polarized molecules