biochar
Pyrolyzed organic matter
Biochar is charcoal produced by heating organic matter—wood, crop waste, manure—in a low-oxygen environment.
Unlike regular charcoal burned for fuel, biochar is worked into soil to improve fertility and water retention.
It also sequesters carbon that would otherwise return to the atmosphere: Farmers are adding biochar to depleted fields.
The practice has ancient roots in Amazonian terra preta soils.
Heat-driven molecular breakdown
- feedstockUnprocessed manufacturing input
- gasificationConverting carbon materials to vapor
- kilnOven for hardening clay
- retortQuick, cutting reply
carbonization · wood chips · rice husks · coconut shells · temperature · activation · processing
Substance improving dirt quality
- soil structureArrangement of earth particles
- soil fertilityEarth's crop-growing potential
- soil healthGround's biological vitality
- water retentionBody storing excess fluid
soil conditioner · soil pH · organic matter · humus · mycorrhizae · earthworms · compost · vermicompost
Agricultural production amount
- fertilizerSoil nutrient supplement
- soil fertilityEarth's crop-growing potential
- organic farmingCultivation without synthetic chemicals
- permacultureSustainable ecosystem design method
plant growth · composting · farm management · horticulture · sustainable agriculture · cover crops · no-till · biofertilizer
Accumulation on a surface
- activated carbonPorous charcoal for filtration
- surface areaMeasure of outer boundary
- porosityVoid space density
- microporesSubmicroscopic holes in materials
Removing and storing atmospheric CO2
- carbon storageCapturing and containing CO2
- carbon sinkCO2 storage reservoir
- carbon creditsTradeable pollution permits
- carbon footprint reductionLessening emissions from activities
emissions reduction · net-zero · climate mitigation · carbon cycle · long-term storage · atmospheric carbon · drawdown
Dense metallic environmental contaminants
- water filtrationRemoving impurities from liquid
- industrial wasteByproducts from manufacturing processes
- cadmiumElement forty-eight
- leadDense metal, symbol Pb
wastewater treatment · stormwater · groundwater · brownfield · detoxification
pyrolysis
Heat-driven molecular breakdown
- feedstockUnprocessed manufacturing input
- gasificationConverting carbon materials to vapor
- kilnOven for hardening clay
retort · carbonization · wood chips · rice husks · coconut shells · temperature · activation · processing
soil amendment
Substance improving dirt quality
- soil structureArrangement of earth particles
- soil fertilityEarth's crop-growing potential
- soil healthGround's biological vitality
water retention · soil conditioner · soil pH · organic matter · humus · mycorrhizae · earthworms · compost · vermicompost · porosity
crop yield
Agricultural production amount
- fertilizerSoil nutrient supplement
- soil fertilityEarth's crop-growing potential
- organic farmingCultivation without synthetic chemicals
permaculture · plant growth · composting · farm management · horticulture · sustainable agriculture · cover crops · no-till · biofertilizer · crop rotation
adsorption
Accumulation on a surface
- activated carbonPorous charcoal for filtration
- surface areaMeasure of outer boundary
- porosityVoid space density
carbon sequestration
Removing and storing atmospheric CO2
- carbon storageCapturing and containing CO2
- carbon sinkCO2 storage reservoir
- carbon creditsTradeable pollution permits
carbon footprint reduction · emissions reduction · net-zero · climate mitigation · carbon cycle · long-term storage · atmospheric carbon · drawdown
heavy metals
Dense metallic environmental contaminants
- water filtrationRemoving impurities from liquid
- industrial wasteByproducts from manufacturing processes
- cadmiumElement forty-eight
lead · wastewater treatment · stormwater · groundwater · brownfield · detoxification
- Carboncarbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, graphite, diamond, diamonds
- charcoalbriquettes
- compostingcompost bin, composter, tumbler, worm bin, vermicomposter
- farm ecologyagroforestry, beneficial insects, companion planting, cover crops, earthworms
- growing mediapotting mix, potting soil, garden soil, perlite, vermiculite
- Soil Amendmentscompost, manure, peat moss, lime, gypsum
biocharheavy metals
Dense metallic environmental contaminants
synthetic fertilizer · herbicide · pesticide · toxic waste · salt
biocharatmospheric carbon
Carbon dioxide in air
greenhouse gas emissions · carbon dioxide emissions · carbon dioxide · CO2 emissions · CO2
biology, charcoal, biography, bio, char, biological, biographer, biome, biotic