The 1st International Symposium on Biochar

The 1st International Symposium on Biochar

www.biochar.co.kr

Organizing Committee

Chairman

Yong Sik OK Director, Biochar Research Center Professor, Kangwon National University (Korea)

Committee Members

Jae E. Yang President, International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS)

Mahmoud Wazne Professor, Stevens Institute of Technology (USA)

Yoshiyuki Shinogi Professor, Kyushu University, Japan

Mehmet Aydin Professor, Mustafa Kemal University (Turkey)

Xiaomin Dou Professor, Beijing Forestry University, China

Yeong Sang Jung Professor, Kangwon National University, Korea

Sang Soo Lee Research Professor, Kangwon National University (Korea)

Meththika Vithanage Group Leader, Institute of Fundamental Studies (Sri Lanka)

Jiang Shan Jin Associate Professor, Yanbian University (China)

Secretary of Symposium

Mahtab Ahmad Group Leader, Material Exploration & Manufacturing, Biochar Research Center (Korea) Tel: 82-33-255-6443 E-mail: [email protected]


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Opening Greetings

Yong Sik Ok Director, Biochar Research Center, Korea Professor, Kangwon National University, Korea


www.biochar.co.kr

Yong Sik Ok

Director, Biochar Research Center

Professor, Kangwon National University

Opening Greetings

I am delighted and honored to join you at the opening of the 1st International

Symposium on Biochar under the title of “Biochar for Climate Change Mitigation & Soil

and Environmental Management”. This symposium is a very welcome, relevant and

useful complement to deliberations. I would like to express my deepest gratitude and

warm welcome to participants from overseas, who have travelled to this symposium from

all over the world with the greatest interest and the continuing collaborations.

It is my understanding that we are not able do any of the activity successfully and

efficiently without the constructive input from all involved and concerned parties, this is

truly a cooperative effort.

Biochar Research Center (BRC) was established in September, 2011 funded by

Kangwon National University, Korea. The BRC is providing an opportunity to share

valuable ideas and expertise on biochar with the outstanding researchers. This

symposium is designed to develop current biochar studies and make a closer relationship

among scientists around the world. It would be a great opportunity to achieve

collaborative work in the future.

This symposium is proposed to be open, transparent and inclusive encouraging input

from a specific group of participants with different views. I expect that this symposium

will provide new perspectives in order to deal with the biochar applications from both a

practical and academic point of view.

We must further search for ways to make possible the long-term continuation of our

steady efforts and this gathering in particular.

With these few remarks, I declare the symposium open and I wish you every success.

I also wish you a pleasant stay in Korea.

Thank you very much.


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Symposium Program


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Day 1: December 8, 2011

13:00 – 13:40 Registration & Warm-up Meeting

13:40 – 14:00 Opening Greetings

Yong Sik Ok (Prof., Director of BRC)

14:00 – 14:40 Invited Lectures

Chair: Hee Myong Ro (Prof., Seoul National University, Korea)

14:00 – 14:20 Makoto Ogawa (President JBA, Osaka Institute of Technology, Japan)

“Why biochar is so effective for plant growth?”

14:20 – 14:40 Dinesh Mohan (Jawaharlal Nehru University, India)

“Biomass fast pyrolysis for the production of bioenergy and bio-chars”


Chair: Seung Hun Hyun (Prof., Korea University, Korea)

14:40 – 15:00 Mahtab Ahmad (Pakistan Council of Scientific & Industrial Research, Pakistan)

“Effects of pyrolysis temperature on soybean stover and peanut shells derived

biochar properties and TCE adsorption in water”

15:00 – 15:20 Akira Shibata (Ritsumeikan University, Japan)

“Carbon minus project through biochar and carbon sequestered vegetable COOL

VEGE TM towards rural development”

15:20 – 15:40 Xiaomin Dou (Beijing Forestry University, China)

“Novel adsorbents for toxic metals removal from groundwater: performance and

mechanisms”

Coffee Break & Poster Presentations

Chair: Sunyoung Bae (Prof., Seoul Woman’s University, Korea)

16:00 – 16:20 Sang Soo Lee (Kangwon National University, Korea)

“Biochar application to soils: a critical scientific review”

16:20 – 16:40 Gou Yamamoto (Gaia System Co. Ltd. Shizuoka, Japan)

“Porous bamboo charcoal, simple production method”

16:40 – 17:00 Tsuyoshi Hirowaka (International Charcoal Cooperative Association, Japan)

“Withered Oak forest has come back to life with charcoal application”

17:00 – 17:20 Pinijpon Pituya (Chulalongkorn University, Thailand)

“The use of biochar improves soil structure and properties of the event.

Case study: the planting of sorghum in the area of Huay Sai Royal Development

Study Center Project, due to the initiative, Sam Phraya Cha-am District,

Phetchaburi Province”

Coffee Break & Poster Presentations

Chair: Yong Sik Ok (Prof., Kangwon National University, Korea)

17:40 – 18:00 Thavivongse Sriburi (Chulalongkorn University, Thailand)

“Biochar researches for soil amendment at Pa-deng Biochar Research Center

(PdBRG (CC294I)), Thailand”

18:00 – 18:20 Yasser Awad (Suez Canal University, Egypt)

“Effects of polyacrylamide, biopolymer, and biochar on decomposition of soil

organic matter and plant residues as determined by 14

C and enzyme activities”

18:20 – 18:40 Yongwoon Lee (Sungkyunkwan University, Korea)

“Characteristics of biochar from slow pyrolysis of Geodae-Uksae”

18:40 – 19:00

Gayoung Yoo (Kyung Hee University, Korea)

“Effects of biochar addition on greenhouse gas emission and microbial responses


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in a short-term laboratory experiment”

19:00 – Reception (Local traditional taste: spicy, stir-fried chicken ribs with vegetables)

@ Jin Mi Dakgalbi (Tel: 033-243-2888)

Day 2: December 9, 2011

09:30 – 10:00 Late Registration & Warm-up Meeting


Chair: Jong Hwa Ahn (Prof., Kangwon National University, Korea)

10:00 – 10:20 Dinesh Mohan (Jawaharlal Nehru University, India)

“Applications of bio-char, a green low cost adsorbent in water and wastewater

treatment”

10:20 – 10:40 Karl Frogner (President & Project Development Head, UB International)

“Phase 1 biochar: Low tech biochar from thinly distributed feedstock (TDF) in

sustainable rural development for timely climate change mitigation (CCM)”

10:40 – 11:00 Mahtab Ahmad (Pakistan Council of Scientific & Industrial Research, Pakistan)

“Effects of soil dressing and amendments (mussel shell, cow bone, and biochar)

on Pb availability and phytotoxicity in military shooting range soil”

11:00 – 11:20 Mehmet Aydin (Mustefa Kamal University, Turkey)

“Simulation of crop responses to climate change”

11:20 – 11:40 Deok Hyun Moon (Chosun University, Korea)

“Pb immobilization in an army firing range soil using soybean stover biochar”

Coffee Break

Chair: Ju Sik Kim (Prof., University of Seoul, Korea)

11:50 – 12:10 Meththika Vithanage (Institute of Fundamental Studies, Sri Lanka)

“Modeling antimony sorption on to soybean biochar”

12:10 – 12:30 Sang Soo Lee (Kangwon National University, Korea)

“Effects of polyacrylamide and biochar on soil properties and plant growth”

12:30 – 12:50 Amran Salleh (Universiti Putra, Malaysia)

“Biochar production development in Malaysia”

12:50 – 13:10 Anushka Upamali (University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka)

“Efficacy of soybean stover-derived biochar for the removal of arsenic and

antimony from aqueous solutions”

13:10 – 13:30 Yaser Almaroi (Umm Al-Qura University, Saudi Arabia)

“Effects of biochar, cow bone and eggshell on Pb availability in contaminated soil

irrigated with saline water”

13:30 – 14:30 Lunch (Korean taste)

@Baekrokgwan, Kangwon National University

14:30 – 18:00 Field trip to commercial biochar company at Gangwon Province


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Contents

Invited lectures ........................................................................................................... 1

IL1 Why biochar is so effective for plant growth? .................................................................... 2

Makoto Ogawa

IL2 Biomass fast pyrolysis for the production of bioenergy and bio-chars............................... 4

Dinesh Mohan

IL3 Effects of pyrolysis temperature on soybean stover and peanut shells derived biochar properties and TCE adsorption in water ............................................................................. 6

Mahtab Ahmad

IL4 Carbon minus project through biochar and carbon sequestered vegetable COOL VEGE TM towards rural development ................................................................................................. 7

Akira Shibata

IL5 Novel adsorbents for toxic metals removal from groundwater: performance and mechanisms ........................................................................................................................ 9

Xiaomin Dou

IL6 Biochar application to soils: a critical scientific review ..................................................... 11

Sang Soo Lee

IL7 Porous bamboo charcoal, simple production method...................................................... 17

Gou Yamamoto

IL8 Withered Oak forest has come back to life with charcoal application ............................ 13

Tsuyoshi Hirowaka

IL9 The use of biochar improves soil structure and properties of the event. Case study: the planting of sorghum in the area of Huay Sai Royal Development Study Center Project, due to the initiative, Sam Phraya Cha-am District, Phetchaburi Province ........................................................................................................................................... 14

Pinijpon Pituya

IL10 Biochar researches for soil amendment at Pa-deng Biochar Research Center (PdBRG (CC294I)), Thailand ........................................................................................................... 16

Thavivongse Sriburi

IL11 Effects of polyacrylamide, biopolymer, and biochar on decomposition of soil organic matter and plant residues as determined by 14C and enzyme activities .......................... 17

Yasser Mahmoud Awad


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IL12 Characteristics of biochar from slow pyrolysis of Geodae-Uksae .................................... 18

Yongwoon Lee

IL13 Effects of biochar addition on greenhouse gas emission and microbial responses in a short-term laboratory experiment ................................................................................... 19

Gayoung Yoo

IL14 Applications of bio-char, a green low cost adsorbent in water and wastewater treatment ........................................................................................................................................... 21

Dinesh Mohan

IL15 Phase 1 biochar: Low tech biochar from thinly distributed feedstock (TDF) in sustainable rural development for timely climate change mitigation (CCM) ...................................... 22

Karl Frogner

IL16 Effects of soil dressing and amendments (mussel shell, cow bone, and biochar) on Pb availability and phytotoxicity in military shooting range soil ........................................... 23

Mahtab Ahmad

IL17 Simulation of crop responses to climate change .............................................................. 24

Mehmet Aydin

IL18 Pb immobilization in an army firing range soil using soybean stover biochar .................. 25

Deok Hyun Moon

IL19 Modeling antimony sorption on to soybean biochar ........................................................ 27

Meththika Vithanage

IL20 Effects of polyacrylamide and biochar on soil properties and plant growth .................... 28

Sang Soo Lee

IL21 Biochar production development in Malaysia .................................................................. 29

Mohamad Amran Salleh

IL22 Efficacy of soybean stover-derived biochar for the removal of arsenic and antimony from aqueous solutions ..................................................................................................... 30

Anushka Upamali

IL23 Effects of biochar, cow bone and eggshell on Pb availability in contaminated soil irrigated with saline water ................................................................................................ 31

Yaser Almaroi

Poster presentations ................................................................................................. 32

PO1 The ph buffering capacity of the biochars produced from a buffalo weed and a sawdust at different temperatures ................................................................................................. 33


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Hoon Rho

PO2 Influence of pyrolysis temperature on Platanus tree bark derived biochar property and function as a heavy metal sorbent .................................................................................... 34

Sung Jin Jung

PO3 Adsorption characteristics of cadmium onto giant Miscanthus biochar produced in various temperature.......................................................................................................... 35

Woong-ki Kim

PO4 Variation of chemical properties of soil amended biochar with aging periods ........... 36

Yong-Seong Kim

PO5 Effect of biochar application to the soil from areas around industrial complex on heavy metal phytoavailability, dissolved organic carbon and organic acid contents ................. 37

Hyuck-Soo Kim

PO6 Biochar for climate change mitigation & Soil and Environmental Management.............. 38

Sang Soo Lee


www.biochar.co.kr 1

Invited Lectures

Chair: Hee Myong Ro Professor, Seoul National University, Korea


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‘Why Biochar is So Effective for Plant Growth?’

Makoto Ogawa

Osaka Institute of Technology

Among Asian countries, peoples have long history to use rice hull charcoal for soil

amendment in practice, but the background had been obscure for long time. Since 1980's

the studies were performed from microbiological view point, mainly on the symbiotic

microorganisms in Japan. Charcoal is a porous material with high water and air retention

capacities and high alkalinity. Therefore, it works to stimulate root growth and to

enhance the infection of various symbiotic microbes of part species. When we use

carbonized materials in agriculture, forestry, revegetation and construction, it can be

expected to get the sustainability of crop production, soil conservation. Moreover, it will

be able to contribute for the reduction of carbon dioxide indirectly by means of biochar

which is buried into arable soil and forest. In this report, the research results on the

effects of biochar for the plant growth and microbial associations will be reviewed.

The characteristics of biochar are summarized as follows:

1. Charcoal is a porous material with high water and air holding capacities. It is efficient

for the improvement of physical property of soil, neutralization of acidic soil,

stimulation of rooting and propagation of soil bacteria.

2. Charcoal has strong adsorption of nutrients, chemicals and air pollutants. Therefore, it

is useful for saving of fertilizers and chemicals.

3. Charcoal is basic and inorganic substance. It plays an important role to select

microorganisms. In general, saprophytic microorganisms are unable to grow or to be

inactive because of lack of substrates. Most of bacteria and Actinomycetes propagate

in basic condition, but most of fungi except for the specific group is unable to grow in

charcoal.

4. The charcoal produced under low temperature, 400 to 500 degree Celsius, has soft,

porous texture and low alkalinity. It is suitable for the rooting and the propagation of

some microbes. The one produced under higher temperature than 800℃ has hard

texture, minute pores and strong alkalinity. So, it is harmful for the root growth, but

good for the adsorption of bacterial cells. The one produced under lower temperature,

275 to 350℃, is slightly acidic. It is good for ammonia adsorption and some plant

growth.

5. Charcoal is a favorable site for the growth of autotrophic and symbiotic

microorganisms, and provides the room for rendezvous between root and microbes.

Autotrophic and symbiotic microorganisms which are weaker than saprophytic

microbes like to grow in porous materials without organic substances.

6. Charcoal is not a fertilizer. Therefore, it is necessary to mix with small amount of

chemical or organic fertilizers before use.

7. Charcoal is useful for compost production as a stimulator of decomposition through

aeration, water absorption, neutralization and deodorization. Since old days, it had


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been popular to make compost mixing organic materials with the some kinds of

charcoal and ash.

8. The carbon content of charcoal is 80-90% in general, and the carbon is a stable

element in nature. The stability has been clarified by the archaeological evidences and

experiments exposed under severe conditions. Wood charcoal seems to be one of the

best materials for carbon sequestration.


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Biomass Fast Pyrolysis for the Production of Bioenergy and Bio-Chars

Dinesh Mohan*1, Philip H. Steele

2, and Charles U. Pittman Jr.

3

1School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067,

India 2Forest Products Department, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762,

USA 3Department of Chemistry, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762,

USA

The need for resource conservation and the development of value-added products

from biomass have promoted the development of technologies to utilize biomass more

efficiently. Considerable efforts have been made to convert biomass to liquid fuels and

chemicals since the oil crises in the mid-1970s. Pyrolysis of renewable biomass to

produce liquid fuels has attracted much attention due to the high price of petroleum. Fast

pyrolysis is a promising route to liquid fuels. Virtually any form of biomass can be

considered for pyrolysis. Fast pyrolysis can be carried out in the moderate temperature

range (400-5000C) with a very small residence time (< 3 sec.) in absence of oxygen. Fast

pyrolysis produces bio-oil (pyrolytic oil), bio-char and gas. There is an abundance of

agricultural residues and other crops that can easily be converted into bio-energy with

bio-char as byproduct.

Fast pyrolyses of pine wood, pine bark, oak wood and oak bark were carried out in an

auger-fed reactor. The pine bark and oak bark samples were air dried for 1–2 days to 8–

10% moisture content while oak and pine wood samples were used as received (6–8%

moisture). Each feed was ground and sieved to a particle size of 2-6 mm before use. Two

pyrolysis temperatures (400 and 450 °C) were employed for each of the four feeds.

Efforts were made to use these chars without any grinding or chemical treatment to

reduce the cost, considering that char is a byproduct. These chars are the byproduct of

biomass fast pyrolysis during bio-oil production. In other words these are simply fast-

pyrolysis bio-chars. These are not synthesized by special conditions/methods. These are

simply by-products and can be used as such without any surface modification. Thus,

these can be considered as low cost materials. In this lecture, fast pyrolysis process and

bio-char development will be discussed.

*Corresponding author:

Dinesh Mohan

Tel: 0091-11-26704616; Fax: 0091-11-26704616; Email: [email protected]


www.biochar.co.kr 5

Invited Lectures

Chair: Seung Hun Hyun Professor, Korea University, Korea


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Effects of Pyrolysis Temperature on Soybean Stover and Peanut Shells

Derived Biochar Properties and TCE Adsorption in Water†

Mahtab Ahmad1,2

, Sang Soo Lee2, Xiaomin Dou

3 and Yong Sik Ok

2*

1Center for Environmental Production Studies, Pakistan Council of Scientific and

Industrial Research, Lahore, Pakistan 2Biochar Research Center, Department of Biological Environment, Kangwon National

University, Chuncheon 200-701, Korea 3Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Beijing Forestry University,

P.O. Box 60, 100083, Beijing, China

In Korea, 5.7 x 105 metric ton of crop residue is being considered for biofuel and

bioenergy production to prevent environmental pollution generated from direct

combustion in the field. Converting crop residue into biochar, a multifunctional material,

can offset the associated environmental problems. We used biochars (BCs) derived from

soybean stover (S-BC300 and S-BC700) and peanut shells (P-BC300 and P-BC700)

carbonized at 300 and 700⁰C to remove trichloroethylene (TCE) in groundwater. Spectral,

elemental and morphological properties of BCs were evaluated as a function of

carbonization temperature. Sorption isotherms were compared using Freundlich and

Langmuir linearized equations. TCE adsorption was highly dependent on BC properties.

Linear relations were observed between sorption parameters (KM and SM) and molar

elemental ratios as well as surface area of BCs. Relatively high adsorption capacity of

BCs produced at 700⁰C was attributed to their high aromaticity and low polarity. TCE

removal from water by S-BC700 and P-BC700 was comparable to that of activated

carbon. We conclude pyrolysis temperature was the controlling factor for the BC

properties that influenced on the removal of TCE in water.

Acknowledgement: The study was supported by the Korea Ministry of Environment as

“The GAIA project (No. 173-092-010)”. * Corresponding author:

Yong Sik Ok, Professor

Tel: +82-33-250-6443; Fax: +82-33-241-6640; Email: [email protected]

†

The abstract is reproduced from the proceedings of 2011 International Symposium and

Annual Meeting of the Korean Society for Applied Biological Chemistry.

mailto:[email protected]


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Carbon Minus Project Through Biochar and Carbon Sequestered

Vegetable COOL VEGE TM Towards Rural Development

Akira Shibata

Japan Biochar Association Secretary General, Ritsumeikan Univ. Regional Research

Center Kyoto Japan

Today, depopularization due to downturned industries in rural areas and the

associated devastation of rural environments are major problems in Japan. It has been

quite a while since people started arguing for development of such areas. While it is

anticipated that business companies will be restricted on greenhouse gas emissions within

several years in urban areas as a climate change mitigation measure, there are in fact only

a few specific and effective methods for greenhouse gas reduction In addition, although

general consumers are highly conscious of the necessity of cooperation regarding

environmental problems, they do not have many specific choices to take. The reduction

of greenhouse gas to mitigate or adapt to drastic climate change is an urgent issue.

The physical utilization of the biochar as a soil improvement agent for agricultural

lands, etc., enable us to sequester carbon under the ground for a long time and reduce the

amount of circulated carbon above the ground. In other words, it is a system of carbon

capture and storage (CCS) by biochar. This system can be an effective and convenient

method of reducing carbon dioxide in order to mitigate climate change.

Japanese have a long history using charcoal as a soil amendment. The Japanese

Ministry of Agriculture officially approved charcoal as soil improver in 1984.

Since 2009, with supervision and grants provided by the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture,

experiments with carbon sequestration on actual farm land began at 16 sites throughout

the country. At six of the 16 sites, GHG (CO2,CH4,N2O) flux is measured using similar

analyzing standards. The results of these analyses will be released sometime around April

2012.

The JBA is now proceeding with the promotion of “Cool Vege” eco-branding for

food and fiber products. This activity is socio-economic and environmentally friendly and

encourages sustainable rural development through “carbon minus” projects.

Carbon minus project is a general social scheme of sequestering carbons through the

biochar CCS on agricultural lands in the farming and mountain villages for agricultural

revival and other regional development. More specifically, the biochar CCS should be

carried out for agricultural lands to generate carbon credits, and simultaneously a brand

should be established for agricultural products from the agricultural lands as COOL

VEGE TM

, or “vegetables that cool the earth by carbon sequestration with biochar” to

increase their commercial value and sales appeal to consumers. As a result, the system

will promote the purchase of carbon credits by business companies in urban areas and

other entities, as well as the sales of regional brand agricultural products with high

additional value to regional and urban consumers.

We can consider this fund reflux method from urban to rural areas by greenhouse

gas reduction can be an effective measure in creating a sustainable low-carbon society

where the urban areas coexist with rural areas. This report is a suggestion for


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establishing the “Carbon Minus Project Scheme”, or the social framework for

facilitating the flow of money from urban areas to rural areas through greenhouse gas

reduction by utilizing biochar.


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Novel Adsorbents for Toxic Metals Removal from Groundwater:

Performance and Mechanisms

Dou, X.M., Li X.H.

Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Beijing Forestry University, P.O.

Box 60, 100083, Beijing, China; e-mail: [email protected]

Toxic heavy metals pollution is a world-wide environmental issue, particularly in

developing countries pertaining to rapid industrialization. In this report, a short review on

toxic heavy metals removal using various adsorbents including biochars and oxides is

presented. The Fe-Zr binary oxides were used as novel adsorbents for the removal of As

and Sb from water. The adsorbents were successfully synthesized in lab using a co-

precipitation method. The adsorbents with a Zr/Fe molar ratio of 1:1 and 2:1 showed

better performance for arsenate (As(V)) and antimonate (Sb(V)) removal, respectively,

compared to Zr-oxide or amorphous Fe-oxide. The adsorbents efficiency for As(V) and

Sb(V) removal was evaluated under various operating conditions such as the initial metal

concentration, temperature, solution pH, ionic strength, reaction time and the presence of

other anions. The results showed a capacity of 78 mg/g for As(V) while 51 mg/g for

Sb(V) at initial concentration of 10 mg/L at pH 7.0. The adsorption of As(V) and Sb(V)

on the Fe-Zr bimetal oxide was normally an endothermic reaction. The mechanism of

adsorption was investigated using a combination of zeta potential measurement, XPS,

Raman, FTIR observations and SO42-

release determination. The zeta potential

measurement indicated inner-sphere surface complexation of As(V) and Sb(V) with the

adsorbents . Raman and XPS observations demonstrated that both Fe-OH and Zr-OH

groups at the surface of the Fe-Zr adsorbents interacted with the two adsorbates. FTIR

analysis and SO42-

release determination further demonstrated that exchange of SO42-

with Sb(V) also played a minor role in the adsorption process. In conclusion, the Fe-Zr

binary adsorbents have high potential for future application to remove both As(V) and

Sb(V) from contaminated water.



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Invited Lectures

Chair: Sunyoung Bae Professor, Seoul Woman’s University, Korea



Biochar Application to Soils: a Critical Scientific Review

F. Verheijen, S. Jeffery, A.C. Bastos, M. van der Velde, and I. Diafas

Presenter:

Sang Soo Lee, Ph.D. (Research Team Manager of BRC)

Yong Sik Ok*, Professor (Director of BRC)

Biochar Research Center, Department of Biological Environment, Kangwon National

University, Chuncheon city 200-701, Korea

Based on a review book “Biochar Application to Soils”, the current circumstance of

biochar research would be introduced via this presentation. Application of biochar has

been considered as a soil amendment for sequestering carbon into soils, and concurrently

improving soil properties and its functions. This book provides us a critical scientific

review of the effects of biochar on soil properties, processes and functions. Briefly, the

biochar or biomass-derived black carbon is a material created from the slow pyrolysis of

biomass under temperature at 300-1,000°C. In agricultural fields, the biochar has also

been known as an alternative of chemical fertilizer. Recently, the use of biochar has

received attention because of two main reasons of: 1) a potential soil amendment for

maintaining soil organic carbon and increasing crop productivity, and 2) an emerging

material that permanently sequesters carbon into soils. However, the further studies are

urgent to understand the carbon sequestration potential and behavior of biochar in the

surrounding environments.

Keywords: Biochar, Climate change, Carbon sequestration, Soil properties







Porous Bamboo Charcoal, simple production method

Gou Yamamoto

1 and Tsuyoshi Hirowaka

2

1Gaia system Co,Ltd., Organic farmer, Shizuoka, Japan

2International Charcoal Cooperative Association, Tokyo, Japan

Bamboo glows very fast. Within 2 months, it reaches to 20m height. In this duration,

bamboo fixes carbon in the air rapidly. It sprouts every year and complete glowing in 3

years. If we fell down them adequately, bamboo forest supplies tasty & healthy bamboo

shoot to us continuously. Bamboo charcoal is a good option to utilize bamboo. Here I

introduce simple method of producing charcoal from bamboo named Porous Bamboo

Charcoal = PBC

The characteristics of PBC are;

1. Since it is porous and soft, it has good affinity to the soil. Minerals easily elute

from PBC into the soil and it has high absorbance capacity as well as draining.

2. It is made up as powder or particle size. No need for crashing to apply into the

soil.

3. Production cost is 1/5 compared to traditional kiln method .

4. Since PBC is charred in high temperature, it has electric conductivity.

5. Compared to wood charcoal, PBC contains more minerals, less tar and no harmful

ingredient.

6. A neutralizing material, high pH value (alkaline)

Method of production;

Tools: Shovel, how, tin plate 270cm x 90cm, 500liter of water

1. Fell down bamboo and cut it to 3-4m long.

2. Wait until the leaves has dried up.

3. Select the location and prepare empty space of 10m x 10m. Lay tin plate on the

ground and set fire on it with branches and dry bamboo, throw branches into the

fire to glow up. Then throw upper part (with branch) and bottom part (without

branch) alternately in a same direction so as not to burn well.

4. Draw out the live coal and spread them to cool down. (If water is available, it’s

better to use for extinguishing.) If it is not charred well, throw it into fire again.

5. Repeat 1-4 until all bamboo are charred. One person can get PBC around

160kg(=800liter) in half a day. PBC is left at the location to dry well. After it

becomes light enough, it’s time to convey to warehouse.

How to apply

It can be applied directly to the farmland (2t/ha) and bamboo forest (5t/ha). For

bamboo shoot, higher yield is realized from third year. I also utilize this PBC for my

Bokashi fertilizer. Bokashi is a kind of compost made of organic material. Usually it

needs hard work to turn over to make up good Bokashi, but with mixing PBC, I don’t

have to turn over it to get better quality of Bokashi. It is very helpful supporter for

organic farmer.



Withered Oak Forest has Come Back to Life with Charcoal Application

Tsuyoshi Hirowaka

1, Shoji Miyashita

2

1International Charcoal Cooperative Association

2Yama no Kai = People’s Association for Forest Recovery

Withering of pine forest has been a big problem in Japan. But we are facing another

problem “withering of broadleaf trees such as Oak”. Although scattering pesticide has

been done for long years to avoid pine withering, it did not work and we had lost

enormous pine forests because of wrong treatment.

Japanese government identified the reason of withering broadleaf forests as eaten by

insects (Platypus quercivorus) and has tried various solutions but not effective. We have

scattered charcoal to withering pine forest since we think the reason is not because of

insect but high acidity of soil. Since it was quite effective to stop withering pine trees, we

have done to withering broadleaf tress as well.

There were some broadleaf trees almost dried out, but after 1 year, all of trees have

come back to life, sap come out from pore of trunk dug by the insects and no insect can

be found any more. About the pH value of soil where charcoal was scattered, before

scattered = pH4.6, after scattered pH5.4. This number is expected to become better one.



The Use of Biochar Improves Soil Structure and Properties of the Event.

Case Study: the Planting of Sorghum in the Area of Huay Sai Royal

Development Study Center Project, due to the Initiative, Sam Phraya

Cha-Am District, Phetchaburi Province.

Dr. Thavivongse Sriburi1, Pinijpon Pituya

2

1Managing Director of Chula Unisearch, Chulalongkorn University.

2The Interdisciplinary Program in Environmental Science, Graduate

School, Chulalongkorn University. Project supported by National Research University

(CC294I)

This study with the initiative of the Huay Sai Royal Development Study Center aims

to find solutions, through appropriate technology. The problems in the area are water

resources and soil degradation. The structure and properties of the soil in the study area

is sandy and lacks the essential nutrients for plant growth. As a result there is slow

growth and low productivity. This study will show the solution by using biochar

produced from trees that are fast growing in the low quality soil. Biochar is ground up

into smaller (0.3 to 1.0 cm) particles to be mixed with compost and biological extract

fertilizer. The study will compare the structure and properties of the soil and soil mixed

with biochar measuring the growth and productivity of sorghum in the plots.

The resulting biochar is mixed into 6 plots of 1 square meter for each of the following.

1. Control plot without bio-char.

2. Plot with 1kg biochar and 1kg compost and 10 liter of 5% biological extract

fertilizer

3. Plot with 2kg biochar and 1kg compost and 10 liter of 5% biological extract

fertilizer

It is tilled to a depth of 20cm. Following the tilling the plot is planted with sorghum

seed at the rate of 6 plants per square meter. After harvested, the soil and yield were

analyzed as following parameters: Organic Matter: Phosphorus: Potassium: pH value:

Production: Total Weight Yield.



Invited Lectures

Chair: Yong Sik Ok Director, Biochar Research Center Professor, Kangwon National University, Korea



Biochar Researches for Soil Amendment at Pa-deng Biochar

Research Center (PdBRG (CC294I)), Thailand

Dr. Thavivongse Sriburi

Managing Director, Chula Unisearch, Chulalongkorn University

Project supported by National Research University (CC294I)

Thailand exports food to the world market and is the top global rice exporter. Rain-

fed agriculture is a common practice among the rural Thai. Floods and water shortage as

a result of climate change greatly diminish agricultural production, which affects social

practices and economic well-being of the majority of the people. It is strategic for

Thailand to prepare for adaptation and to undertake mitigation measures that work with

the country’s development goals.

Carbon sinks and captures by using biochar from biomass - agricultural wastes are the

mitigation measures that are researching at the Pa-deng Biochar Research Center

(PdBRC). Controlled temperature biochar retort by slow pyrolysis process be the

procedure produces biochar. Purpose of the research is to develop inexpensive biochar

retort that agriculturist can build and produce biochar to meet Food and Agriculture

Organization (FAO) guidelines by themselves which can reduces the GHG emission

problems.

The biochar are using 7 types of biomass include 6 types of local woods and corncobs.

The controlled temperature in retort was set in the range of 500-600 oC. After production,

biochar will be sent to the laboratory for C-H-N analysis, heated value analyses, surface

and interface analyses, water holding capacity and total nitrogen holding capacity

analysis. The results show that biochar is suitable to use with additional of organic

fertilizer can improve soil condition for agricultural practices. But there still have to do

more researches on the suitability to use biochar for different types of soil.



Effects of Polyacrylamide, Biopolymer, and Biochar on Decomposition

of Soil Organic Matter and Plant Residues as Determined by 14

C and

Enzyme Activities†

Yasser Mahmoud Awad1,3

, Evgenia Blagodatskaya2, Yong Sik Ok

3,*, Yakov Kuzyakov

4

1Agriculture Botany Department, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt

2Institute of Physicochemical and Biological Problems in Soil Science, Russian Academy

of Sciences, Institutskaya 2, 142290 Pushchino, Russia 3Biochar Research Center, Department of Biological Environment, Kangwon National

University, Chuncheon 200-701, Republic of Korea 4Department of Soil Science of Temperate Ecosystems, , University of Göttingen, 37077

Göttingen, Germany

Application of polymers for the improvement of aggregate structure and reduction of

soil erosion may alter the availability and decomposition of plant residues. In this study,

we assessed the effects of anionic polyacrylamide (PAM), synthesized biopolymer (BP),

and biochar (BC) on the decomposition of 14

C-labeled maize residue in sandy and sandy

loam soils. Specifically, PAM and BP with or without 14

C-labeled plant residue were

applied at 400 kg ha-1

, whereas BC was applied at 5000 kg ha-1

, after which the soils

were incubated for 80 days at 22 °C. Initially, plant residue decomposition was much

higher in untreated sandy loam soil than in sandy soil. Nevertheless, the stimulating

effects of BP and BC on the decomposition of plant residue were more pronounced in

sandy soil, where it accounted for 13.4% and 23.4% of 14

C input, respectively, whereas in

sandy loam soil, the acceleration of plant residue decomposition by BP and BC did not

exceed 2.6% and 14.1%, respectively, compared to untreated soil with plant residue. The

stimulating effects of BP and BC on the decomposition of plant residue were confirmed

based on activities of β-cellobiohydrolase, β-glucosidase, and chitinase in both soils. In

contrast to BC and BP, PAM did not increase the decomposition of native or added C in

both soils.

Keywords: Polyacrylamide, Biopolymer, Biochar, 14

C plant residue, CO2 efflux, C

sequestration

Acknowledgement: This work was carried out with the support of the “Cooperative

Research Program for Agriculture Science & Technology Development (Project No.

PJ0074092011)” Rural Development Administration and the Korea Ministry of

Environment as “The GAIA project (No.173-111-040)” in Republic of Korea.




†This abstract is reproduced from our published article at the European Journal of Soil

Biology.




Characteristics of Biochar from Slow Pyrolysis of Geodae-Uksae

Yongwoon Lee1, Pu-Reun-Byul Eum

1, Changkook Ryu

1*, Jin-Ho Jung

2, Seunghun Hyun

2

1School of Mechanical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University

Suwon, 440-746, Korea 2Division of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, Korea University

Anam-dong, Seongbuk-Gu, Seoul, 136-713, Korea

Geodae-Uksae is a variety of Miscanthus sacchariflorus recently found in Korea. It

grows 4 meter tall and yields as high as 30 ton-dry/ha/yr which is about 50% larger than

the common Miscanthus. For demonstration of its potential for bioenergy, Geodae-Uksae

is currently being mass-cultivated in several sites in Korea. This study investigates the

route of producing biochar and bio-oil from the crop using slow pyrolysis.

Using an electrically heated packed bed reactor, the products of slow pyrolysis from

Geodae-Uksae were produced for a temperature range of 300-700oC with a heating rate

of 10oC/min. The biochar, condensable vapor (bio-oil) and residual gases were

characterized for the physical and chemical properties. Although the mass yields of

biochar slowly decreased with increasing temperature, it became highly carbonaceous

with over 80 wt.% of carbon content. Pyrolysis at temperatures above 500oC yielded

biochar of about 27 wt.% while about 48% of carbon from the raw crop remained in the

solid. The surface area of biochar increased to 230 m2/g at 550

oC. The bio-oil yield was

about 50% at 500oC, which contained water and numerous heavy molecular weight

compounds. The non-condensable gases consisted mainly of CO and CO2 with a minor

amount of H2 and CH4. Although the heating value was low, the gases can be burned to

supply the heat required for pyrolysis.

Based on the fundamental characteristics of pyrolysis presented in this study, further

investigations are required to examine the detailed properties of biochar and its effect on

the soil biota.


Tel.: +82-31-299-4841, E-mail: [email protected]




Effects of Biochar Addition on Greenhouse Gas Emission and Microbial

Responses in a Short-Term Laboratory Experiment

Gayoung Yoo1 and Hojeong Kang

2

1Kyung Hee University, 1 Seoceon dong, Kiheung gu, Kyunggi do, Korea

2Yonsei University, Shinchon dong, Seodaemun gu, Seoul, Korea

Biochar application to soil has drawn much attention as a strategy to sequester

atmospheric carbon in soil ecosystems. The applicability of this strategy as a climate

change mitigation option is limited by our understanding of the mechanisms responsible

for observed changes in greenhouse gas emissions from soils, microbial responses, soil

fertility, etc. We conducted an 8 week laboratory incubation using soils from PASTURE

(silt loam) and RICE PADDY (silt loam) sites with and without two types of biochar

(biochar from swine manure, CHAR-M, and from barley stover, CHAR-B). Responses to

addition of the two different biochars varied with the soil source. Addition of CHAR-B

did not change CO2 and CH4 evolution from either the PASTURE or the RICE PADDY

soils, however there was a decrease in N2O emissions from the PASTURE soil. On the

other hand, effects of CHAR-M addition on greenhouse gas emissions were different for

the soils. The most substantial change was an increase in N2O emissions from the RICE

PADDY soil. This result was attributed to a combination of abundant denitrifiers in this

soil and increased net nitrogen mineralization. Soil phosphatase and N-

acetylglucosaminidase activity in the CHAR-B treated soils was enhanced compared with

the controls for both soils. Fungal biomass was higher in the CHAR-B treated RICE

PADDY soil. From our results, we suggest CHAR-B to be an appropriate amendment for

both the PASTURE and RICE PADDY soils because it provides increased nitrogen

availability and microbial activity with no net increase in greenhouse gas emissions.

Application of CHAR-M to RICE PADDY soils could result in excess nitrogen

availability which may increase N2O emissions and possible NO3 leaching problems.

Thus, this study confirms that environmentally sound biochar additions to soils will

depend on the characteristics of the receiving soil as well as the nature of the biochar.



Invited Lectures

Chair: Jong Hwa Ahn Professor, Kangwon National University, Korea



Applications of Bio-Char, a Green Low Cost Adsorbent in Water and

Wastewater Treatment

Dinesh Mohan*1, Philip H. Steele

2, and Charles U. Pittman Jr.

3

1School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067,

India 2Forest Products Department, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762,

USA 3Department of Chemistry, Mississippi State University,, Mississippi State, MS 39762,

USA

Fast pyrolyses of pine wood, pine bark, oak wood and oak bark were carried out in an

auger-fed reactor at 400 and 450 °C. The chars obtained at the two temperatures were

mixed together for further utilization. The morphologies and surface chemistries of bio-

chars were studied by FT-IR, X-ray, SEM, TEM, elemental analysis, surface area (SBET)

and density measurement. Efforts were made to use these chars without any grinding or

chemical treatment to reduce the cost, considering that char is a byproduct. Bio-char by-

products from fast wood/bark pyrolyses, were investigated as adsorbents for water

remediation successfully. Sorption studies were conducted for the removal and recovery

of various metal ions from aqueous solution. The char performances were evaluated

using various adsorption isotherms (Freundlich, Langmuir, Redlich-Peterson, Toth,

Temkin, Sips and Radke) models.

It is important to mention that the surface area and pore structure of these char by-

products could, in the future be greatly enhanced by steam activation and/or some

specific chemical treatments. This could enhance the adsorption rate and might further

increase adsorption capacity. It is important to emphasize this has not yet been done and

represents an opportunity for big improvement on the future. Thus, byproduct chars from

bio-oil production might be used as readily available and inexpensive adsorbents for

water remediation at a value above their neat fuel value. Furthermore, these chars as

directly obtained from the biomass pyrolyses, have already successfully treated

contaminated ground water.

These studies could lead to additional byproduct value from biorefineries. In this

lecture, bio-chars characterization and their applications in wastewater treatment will be

discussed in detail.


Dinesh Mohan

Tel: 0091-11-26704616; Fax: 0091-11-26704616; Email: [email protected]



Phase 1 Biochar:

Low Tech Biochar from Thinly Distributed Feedstock (TDF) in

Sustainable Rural Development for Timely Climate Change

Mitigation (CCM)

Karl J. Frogner

President & Project Development Head; UB International (UBI)

Project Development Head; Mongolian Biochar Initiative (MoBI)

Project Development Consultant; Thai Biochar Initiative (ThBI)

Project Development Head; UBI Hawaii (UBI HI)

Member, Advisory Committee, International Biochar Initiative (IBI)

Hansen et al modeled a critical phase (here phase 1) for the reduction of GHG

pollution based on 6%/yr beginning in 2013. Postponement for business as usual for

between 10 to 20 years results in the danger of crossing climatic tipping points. Since

charcoal sequestered in the ground is operationally equivalent to GHGe not emitted,

timely biochar sequestration can aid in Phase 1 CCM. Unfortunately, Woolf et al do not

expect high unit production biochar (HUP) to reach peak production before 2050,

indicating that it is unlikely to contribute significantly to Phase 1 CCM, though it could to

the second phase. The advent of the efficient 200 l TLUD biochar oven permits programs

such as UBI-c to leverage sustainable biochar sequestration from TDF by rural

smallholders into timely CCM. This could go a long ways towards achieving the potential

of TDF, which Professor Lehmann has characterized as having the greatest potential for

CCM from soil sequestered biochar, into timely phase 1 CCM.

Thus, a balanced approach addressing both Phase 1 (TDF) and Phase 2 (TDF &

HUP) focused efforts at significant biochar aided CCM would seem to be called for.

This presentation will expand upon the above model interpretations. An outline of

elements needed in responsible phase 1 biochar programs, such as UBI-c, leading to a

balanced biochar CCM response will be discussed.



Effects of Soil Dressing and Amendments (Mussel Shell, Cow Bone, and

Biochar) on Pb Availability and Phytotoxicity in Military Shooting

Range Soil

Mahtab Ahmad, Sang Soo Lee and Yong Sik Ok*


University, Chuncheon 200-701, Korea

Bioavailability and bioaccessibility are two important factors in determining the level

of metal toxicity in soil. Inorganic soil amendments can decrease metal bioavailability

and enhance soil quality. In this study, we used mussel shell, cow bone, and biochar to

reduce Pb toxicity in highly contaminated military shooting range soil in Korea. Water-

soluble and 1 M ammonium nitrate extractions along with a modified physiologically

based extraction test (PBET) were performed to determine Pb bioavailability and

bioaccessibility in the soil, respectively. Biologically active carbon in the soil was also

determined to evaluate the effects of the amendments on soil quality. Seed germination

and root elongation tests using lettuce (Lactuca sativa) showed increases in germination

percentage and root length in soil treated with the amendments. Biochar was most

effective in increasing seed germination (360%) and root length (189%) compared to

control. Bioavailability and bioaccessibility of Pb decreased, respectively, to 92.5% and

48.5% in mussel shell, 84.8% and 34.5% in cow bone, and 75.8% and 12.5% in biochar-

treated soil compared to control. The overall results suggest that the observed reduction

in Pb availability in military shooting range soil by the amendments was related to a

decrease in Pb ecotoxicity, as indicated by seed germination and root length. Furthermore,

an increase in biologically active carbon in soil by the amendments aided the

revitalization of contaminated shooting range soil.

Acknowledgement: This study was supported by the Korea Ministry of Environment as

The GAIA (Geo-Advanced Innovative Action) Project (No. 173-111-040).

* Corresponding author:






Simulation of Crop Responses to Climate Change

Mehmet Aydin1, Tomohisa Yano

2, Tomokazu Haraguchi

3

Masumi Koriyama3, Fatih Evrendilek

4

1Department of Biological Environment, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 200-

701, Korea. 2Arid Land Research Center, Tottori University, Tottori 680-0001, Japan.

3 Faculty of Agriculture, Saga University, Saga 840-8502, Japan.

4 Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Izzet Baysal University, 14280 Bolu, Turkey.

Impacts of climate change on crop growth and development, and soil-water budget in

the Mediterranean region of Turkey were simulated using climate projections of the

Canadian Global Coupled Model (CGCM2) and the Centre for Climate System

Research-National Institute for Environmental Studies-Japan (CCSR-NIES). Effects of

climate change on wheat and maize development were predicted using the SWAP model.

Water budget components of bare soils were quantified using the E-DiGOR model.

Increases in biomass were 22 and 6% for wheat and maize (second crop) in response to

doubled CO2 concentration under the current climatic conditions; however, these

increases were counteracted by temperature rises of 3 and 1 oC for the crops, respectively.

Without the CO2-fertilization effect, wheat biomass was projected to decrease by 24 and

9% according to the CGCM2 and CCSR-NIES, respectively, for the 2070-2079 period

when compared with the 1994-2003 period. Under the CO2-fertilization effect, wheat

biomass decreased by 4% based on the CGCM2, but increased by 13% based on the

CCSR-NIES. Maize biomass was predicted to decrease by 4 to 25% according to both

climate models regardless of the CO2-fertilization effect. Growth duration for wheat

would be 24 and 21 days shorter in the future than before based on the CGCM2 and

CCSR-NIES, respectively. Growth period for maize was shortened by 9 days according

to both models. Irrigation demand was estimated to increase for wheat and decrease for

maize (Sensors 7: 2297-2315, 2007). Potential soil evaporation was projected to increase,

whereas actual soil evaporation and drainage losses were predicted to decrease (Env.

Monit. Assess. 140: 123-130, 2008). We conclude that crop growth simulations give rise

to differential results due to different photosynthesis rates and temperature rises in the

future. Further studies are needed to assess cropland responses to climate change, and to

explore realistic adaptation measures as well as different mitigation approaches such as

biochar.

Correspondence: [email protected]



Pb immobilization in an Army Firing Range Soil Using Soybean Stover

Biochar

Deok Hyun Moon1, Yong Sik Ok

2, Mahtab Ahmad

2, Yoon-Young Chang

3

1Department of Environmental Engineering, Chosun University, Gwangju 501-759,

Republic of Korea 2Biochar Research Center, Department of Biological Environment, Kangwon National

University, Chuncheon 200-701, Republic of Korea 3Department of Environmental Engineering, Kwangwoon University, Seoul, 139-701,

Republic of Korea

In this study biochar made of soybean stover was used to immobilize Pb in an army

firing range soil. Biochar was incubated with contaminated soil at rates of 0wt%, 1wt%,

2wt%, 3wt%, 4wt% and 5wt% for 7 days. Toxicity characteristic leaching procedure

(TCLP) analyses were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the biochar treatment.

X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) analyses were conducted to evaluate the mechanism

responsible for Pb immobilization. Moreover, scanning electron microscopy–energy

dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) analyses were utilized to support the XRPD

analyses.





Invited Lectures

Chair: Ju Sik Kim Professor, University of Seoul, Korea



Modeling Antimony Sorption on to Soybean Biochar

Meththika Vithanage1,2*

, Anushka Upamali Rajapaksha1,2

, Kushani Mahatantila1, Mahtab

Ahmad1 and Yong Sik Ok

1*

1Chemical and Environmental Systems Modeling Research Group, Institute of

Fundamental Studies, Kandy, Sri Lanka 2Biochar Research Center, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Korea

Antimony is considered as ninth most mined metal and its compounds are reported as

priority contaminants in soils and water. Adsorption techniques have been received more

attention on water decontamination as well as metal immobilization in soils. Not many

sorption studies of antimony on natural sorbents have been reported to date to study their

capacities and adsorption mechanisms of antimony on metal oxides, while many

antimony sorbent studies are on synthesized materials. In this study we used soybean

stover biochar (SBC)-Sb(III) system to understand the interface interactions based on

surface complexation approach. Diffuse Double Layer Model (DDLM) with 2-pK

approach is considered. The surface titration data for SBC-300 (SBC pyrolysis

temperature is 300 0C) was best explained with assumed dual sites since no precise

description of sorption interaction chemistry for biochar. Concentration of four

protonated and deprotonated sites obtained based on FITEQL optimization and then the

sorption constants were deduced. The surface area was optimized by the model and

reported as 100 m2/g. Boehm titration and BET data will be used to optimize the data

further and then batch experiments for adsorption edges will be compared with the

models’ results.

Key words: Biochar, Surface complexation model, FITEQL



*Corresponding authors:

Meththika Vithanage, Group Leader








Effects of Polyacrylamide and Biochar on Soil Properties and Plant

Growth

Sang Soo Lee, Haleem S. Shah, Jung-Eun Lim, Yasser M. Awad and Yong Sik Ok*


University, Chuncheon city 200-701, Korea

An increase in soil erosion under climate change threats the sustainable agriculture.

The use of polyacrylamide (PAM) and biochar (BC) as soil conditioners has received

great attention in controlling soil erosion and enhancing soil organic carbon pool that

promise sustainable soil quality and high crop productivity. A greenhouse study was done

to evaluate the effectiveness of PAM and BC on physicochemical soil properties and crop

growth, including maize and soybean. Three treatments (PAM, BC, and their

combination) along with the untreated soil were employed with three replicates. Due to

the metabolic differences of subjected crops including maize and soybean, their growth

performance were very during six weeks. With PAM+BC treatment, the water retention

and dry weight after six weeks were significantly increased by up to 29.4 and 52.6%,

respectively, compared to the untreated soil (each P<0.05). Additionally, soil erosion for

the soil treated with PAM+BC was decreased by 42.1% compared to the untreated soil

(P<0.05). However, unexpectedly, the dehydrogenase activity decreased for soil treated

with BC. We suspect that this reduction possibly resulted from suppression of microbial

activity depending on BC quality, or the molecular composition and folding

characteristics of enzymes in relation to how they become adsorbed to BC surface. Taken

together, the use of PAM and BC reduces soil erosion and increases crop productivity;

however, uncertain changes in soil biological environments should be addressed.

Keywords: Polyacrylamide, Biochar, Crop productivity, Soil quality

Acknowledgement: This work was carried out with the support of the “Cooperative


PJ0074092011)” Rural Development Administration and the Korea Ministry of

Environment as "The GAIA project (No.173-111-040)" in Republic of Korea.







Biochar Production Development in Malaysia

Mohamad Amran Mohd Salleh

Green Engineering and Sustainable Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia

[email protected]

This paper highlights the current biochar research and development in Malaysia. The

focus of biochar work in Malaysia is in the biochar production. The field trials are limited

by the reliable supply of biochar. The production of biochar can be categorized into large

and small scale production with control and without emission control. The large

production with emission control facility uses a rotary kiln for the carbonization and an

afterburner to recover energy and reduces smoke release. Diesel is used to indirectly heat

the kiln. The large production without emission control uses large kiln fixed on the

ground. The biomass is heated directly from the bottom and part of the biomass is used as

fuel. This process take much longer than the rotary kiln and produce a lot of smoke. The

small scale production without emission control is similar to the large fixed kiln but at

much smaller scale in a drum. This type of production can be improved by installing a

simple afterburner. Afterburner works only for a relatively fast carbonization where

sufficient pyrolysis gas is produced. The large scale production can produce between 1-4

ton biochar/day. The small kiln can produce up to 200 kg/day/kiln. The process

temperature for the rotary kiln can be controlled whereas for the fixed kiln, temperature

can vary from 400oC to 900

oC. The cost to produce biochar using rotary kiln with

afterburner is about USD150 whereas for the fixed kiln with and without afterburner is

about USD50. This is below the feasible biochar price set by farmers in USA at USD90

although the process produces a lot of smoke and can contribute to other problems. The

cost of biochar production consider only the operating cost but not the cost of raw

materials. If the biomass has to be purchased, the cost will be higher. As a conclusion,

biochar production in Malaysia faces similar challenges to other places in term of

balancing the production cost and the impact of the process to environment and society.




Efficacy of Soybean Stover-Derived Biochar for the Removal

of Arsenic and Antimony from Aqueous Solutions

Anushka Upamali Rajapaksha1,3

, Meththika Vithanage2,3*

, Hasintha Wijesekara2, Mahtab

Ahmad3 and Yong Sik Ok

3*

1Postgraduate Institute of Science, University of Paradeniya, Sri Lanka

2Chemical and Environmental Systems Modeling Research Group, Institute of

Fundamental Studies, Kandy, Sri Lanka 3Biochar Research Center, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Korea

Arsenic (As) and antimony (Sb) are frequently detected in soils of mining areas and

shooting ranges. In recent, biochar has been used for the immobilization of toxic metals

in contaminated soils. For this reason, it is important to understand the ability of biochar

to remove As and Sb in water under various environmental conditions such as pH,

temperature and competing ions. In this study, we used soybean stover and soybean

stover-derived biochar (SBC) to remove As(III) and Sb(III) from aqueous solutions. The

SBCs were produced from two contrasting pyrolysis temperatures at 300 and 7000C. The

point of zero charge was determined as pH 7.5 and 7.7 for SBC(3000C) and SBC(700

0C),

respectively. The As(III) adsorption in the SBC systems was low compared to that of

Sb(III). Adsorption of Sb(III) on SBC(3000C) showed high removal capacity in a broad

pH ranges from pH 5.0 to pH 7.5, and the efficacy was not affected by ionic strength.

However, adsorption of Sb(III) on SBC(7000C) was low (25%) compared to that of

SBC(3000C). At pH 6, Sb(III) adsorption followed Freundlich isotherm indicating the

SBC surface was heterogeneous. The overall results showed that soybean stover-derived

biochar produced at 3000C could be used to remove Sb(III) from aqueous solutions.

Key words: Biochar, Pyrolysis, Surface complexation model, Point of zero charge



*Corresponding authors:

Meththika Vithanage, Group Leader








Effects of Biochar, Cow Bone and Eggshell on Pb Availability in

Contaminated soil Irrigated with Saline Water

Yaser A. Almaroai1,2

, Yong Sik Ok2,*

1Department of Biology, College of Science, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 673,

Saudi Arabia. 2Biochar Research Center, Department of Biological Environment, Kangwon National


The toxicity of heavy metals adversely affects environment and human health.

Shooting range soils are commonly the second largest source of Pb contamination.

Organic materials derived from biological matter, and natural wastes are applied to soils

for reducing the risk of contaminants to soil biota. The objective of this study was to

assess biochar (BC), cow bone (CB) and eggshell (ES) on the availability of Pb in

shooting range soil irrigated with saline and deionized waters, and its bioavailability to

corn plants. Untreated and treated soils with BC, CB and ES at 5% (w/w) were irrigated

with deionized water and saline water for 21 days in plastic pots under greenhouse

conditions. Soils irrigated with deionized water and treated with the amendments resulted

in ~0.5 unit increase in pH value as compared to soils irrigated with saline water. The

electrical conductivity (EC) and water-extractable ions (anions and cations) in amended

soils irrigated with saline water increased significantly when compared to soils irrigated

with deionized water. The water-extractable Pb concentrations in soils treated with

amendments and irrigated with saline water were decreased significantly, except for CB

treated soil irrigated with deionized water. The corn plants grown in BC treated soil

irrigated with saline water showed decreased Pb concentration in their shoots as

compared to control and other amendments. Taken together, the BC application can be

recommended to reduce the bioavailability of Pb in contaminated soils.

Keywords: Shooting range soils, Cow bones, Biochar, Egg shells, Heavy metals

immobilization, Maize









Poster Presentations



The pH Buffering Capacity of the Biochars Produced from a Buffalo

Weed and a Sawdust at Different Temperatures

Hoon Rho1, Bong Su Choi

1, Jae Kyu Yang

2, and Yoon Young Chang*

1

1Department of Environmental Engineering, Kwangwoon University, South Korea

2Division of General Education, Kwangwoon University, South Korea

Acidic soils occupy approximately 30% of the total arable land on the earth. Soil

acidification can result in toxicity of aluminium and manganese to plants and deficiencies

of phosphorus, molybdenum, calcium, and magnesium in soils, and thus can limit crop

growth and reduce crop yield. In the partial or total absence of oxygen, thermal

decomposition of plant-derived biomass (oxygen-limited pyrolysis) can be manipulated

to yield a solid carbon-rich residue generically referred to as biochar. Biochar is

commonly alkaline, and thus can be used as a soil amendment to neutralize soil acidity

and increase soil pH. In this study, the pH buffering capacity of the biochars produced

from a buffalo weed and a sawdust at different temperatures (300, 500 and 700oC) were

studied by means of oxygen-limited pyrolysis. The buffalo weed and sawdust were air-

dried at room temperature and ground to pass a 1-mm sieve. The ground barks were then

placed in ceramic crucibles, each covered with a fitting lid, and pyrolyzed under oxygen-

limited conditions in a muffle furnace (Thermolyne 48000). The pyrolysis temperature

was raised to the selected values of 300, 500 and 700oC at a rate of approximately 10

oC

min-1

and held constant for 4 h. The biochar samples were then titrated with 0.1 M HCl at

25oC to the end point at pH 2.0 with magnetic stirring. The titration rate was kept at 0.5

mL min-1

, collecting data at every 6 s. The alkalinity and pH of the biochars increased

with increased pyrolysis temperature, which suggests that more alkaline components in

the biochars generated at the high temperature; they were also responsible for the strong

buffer plateau-regions on the acid–base titration curves at 500 and 700oC. The alkalinity

of the biochars, especially for those generated at the lower temperature, likely resulted

from the functional groups such as –COO_ (–COOH) and –O_ (–OH) contained in the

biochars. These functional groups were also responsible for the negative charges of the

biochars. The biochar produced especially from a buffalo weed can be used as

amendments for acidic soils. This study suggests that the pyrolysis at 500~700oC is

optimum for producing biochar for this purpose.

Keyword: buffering, biochar, pyrolysis, acidification, soil

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

This study supported by the Korea Ministry of Environment as the GAIA (Geo-Advanced

Innovative Action) Projects.



Influence of Pyrolysis Temperature on Platanus Tree Bark Derived

Biochar Property and Function as a Heavy Metal Sorbent

Sung Jin Jung1, Jae Kyu Yang

2, and Yoon Young Chang*

1

1Department of Environmental Engineering, Kwangwoon University, South Korea

2Division of General Education, Kwangwoon University, South Korea

Biochar is a low-density charred material produced by pyrolysis of biomass under

conditions of low temperatures and minimal oxygen. The surface area of the pre-charred

source material can be increased. The greatly increased contents of organic carbon and

surface area in the biochar formed during the charring process can be applied to

significantly adsorb dissolved organic carbon (DOC) as well as reduce leaching of

soluble macronutrients and heavy metals. Especially, polar functional group of biochar

which holds abundant base forming cations is known as one of the key determinants in its

capacity of removing heavy metals from contaminated waters. In this study, three biochar

samples were produced by heating air-dried P. orientalis bark under O2-limited condition

at 300, 500, 700°C for 4 h. The biochars generated at three different temperatures were

referred to as BC300, BC500 and BC700. A commercial activated carbon (AC) was

included as controls. For Cu sorption experiments, a stock solution of 10 mg/L Cu was

prepared by dissolving Cu(NO3)2 in 0.01 M NaNO3 solution as background electrolyte

and adjusting pH into 6~6.5. The experiment was conducted in 60-mL polypropylene

tubes by mixing 0.025 g of biochar or AC with 50 mL of 0.01 M NaNO3 containing 0-10

mg/L Cu. Sorption of Cu by biochar at respective pyrolysis temperatures followed a

Langmuir model, attributing mainly to surface sorption within the given pH range (6~6.5).

The biochar was 3 times more effective in Cu sorption than AC, with BC700 being the

most effective (up to 480 mg Cu g-1). The copper sorption by biochar likely resulted

from the electrostatic interactions between copper and biochar surfaces, complexation of

copper by surface functional groups and delocalized p electrons of carbonaceous

materials, and precipitation. Results from this study indicated that Platanus tree bark can

be converted into value added biochar as effective sorbent for the removal of heavy such

as Cu in aqueous solution.

Keyword: sorption, biochar, copper, pyrolysis, contaminant

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

This study supported by the Korea Ministry of Environment as the GAIA (Geo-Advanced

Innovative Action) Projects.



Adsorption Characteristics of Cadmium onto Giant Miscanthus

Biochar Produced in Various Temperature

Woong-ki Kim1, Jinho Jung

1*, Yong-Seong Kim

1, Seunghun Hyun

1, ChangKook Ryu

2

1

Division of Environmental Science & Ecological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul

136-713, Korea 2

School of Mechanical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 440-746, Korea

*Corresponding author’s email: [email protected]

Biochar is a carbon-enriched porous material generated from biomass through

pyrolysis. Most previous studies on biochar were related to enhancement of soil fertility

and metals adsorption in soil environment though biochar can be used to improve water

quality. In this study, batch adsorption kinetic and equilibrium isotherm experiments

were conducted to investigate the adsorption behavior of cadmium onto biochar. Biochars

were produced by oxygen-limited pyrolysis at different temperatures (300, 400, 500 and

600 oC) from giant Miscanthus.

Batch sorption experiments showed that pyrolysis temperatures largely affected

adsorption of cadmium onto biochar. The adsorption capacity of cadmium on biochar

increased with increasing temperature of pyrolysis. It was found to be 15.33, 23.50, 46.18

and 58.83% for biochars made at 300, 400, 500 and 600 oC, respectively. Results of

SEM-EDX and FT-IR indicated that micro- and nano-sized pores on the biochar surface

were the main adsorption sites for cadmium. These findings suggest that biochar

produced in this study may be an alternative adsorbent which can be used to remove

heavy metals in water and wastewater.

Keywords: biochar, sorption isotherm, heavy metal


Email: [email protected]




Variation of Chemical Properties of Soil Amended Biochar with

Aging Periods

Yong-Seong Kim

1, Seunghun Hyun

1*, Woong-Ki Kim, Jinho Jung

1, Changkook Ryu

2

1Korea University, Seoul, 136-713, Korea

2Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 440-746, Korea

Black carbon manufactured through pyrolysis process of biomass has become known

as biochar. Biochar can be produced from a wide range of biomass including agriculture

waste, woody waste, green waste, animal manures, and municipal solid waste. In recently,

the annual number of published articles and reports about related biochar has increased

sharply, because soil amendments with biochar are commonly proposed as a means to

improve soil fertility, water holding capacity, sequester soil carbon, adsorption of various

contaminants, and reduce greenhouse gasses in soil environmental. But the effects of

aging periods on variation of soil’s physical and chemical properties in soil amendments

with biochar are largely unknown, because biochar derived from different processes and

different feedstocks

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impacts of aging periods and pyrolysis

temperatures on physical and chemical properties in the soil amended biochar. Biochars

derived from Miscanthus at 300, 400, 500, and 600 ℃ pyrolysis temperature were added

to a clay loam soil at 1, 2, and 5 %(w/w) and incubated at 15 ℃ (consideration of annual

average ambient temperature in Korea) and about 60% of total pore volume for 28 days.

Keywords: biochar, Miscanthus, aging period, soil amendments, chemical properties.


[email protected]



Effect of Biochar Application to the Soil from Areas Around Industrial

Complex on Heavy Metal Phytoavailability, Dissolved Organic Carbon

and Organic Acid Contents

Hyuck-Soo Kim1*

, Kwon-Rae Kim2, Ho-Jin Kim

1, Jung-Hwan Yoon

1, Ho-Chul Lee

3,

Kye-Hoon Kim1

1Department of Environmental Horticulture, University of Seoul, Seoul, 130-743, Korea

2Han River Environment Research Center, National Institute of Environmental Research,

Yangsu-ri 476-823, Korea 34EN Incorporation, Seoul, 120-760, Korea

Biochar is a by-product from thermal treatment (pyrolysis) of biomass.

Characteristics of biochar such as large specific area and high adsorption ability made it

possible to be used as soil amendment. Its high pH level also helps to reduce the mobility

of heavy metals in soil when applied. Thus, this study was conducted to investigate

chemical properties and heavy metal contents of biochar-applied-soil after cultivating

lettuce.

Lead, Cu, Cd, and Zn contents in the soil used for this study were 240.42 mg kg-1

,

170.88 mg kg-1

, 2.07 mg kg-1

, and 194.88 mg kg-1

, respectively. Lead and Cu contents

were higher than the warning levels in the area 1 according to the Soil Environmental

Conservation Act of Korea.

Biochar originated from rice hull was applied to soil at the ratios, 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 5, and

10%, weight basis. Lettuce (Lactuca sativa cv. Seonpung) was transplanted on the soil.

The pH, heavy metal contents, DOC and organic acid (citric, oxalic, tartaric, malic acid)

of the soil was determined by the standard methods before and after plant cultivation.

Growth characteristics and heavy metal contents for lettuce were also measured.

The total concentrations of heavy metals in soil before- and after-cultivation were

similar. The more the amount of biochar, the higher the soil pH is. Compared to control,

the phytoavailability of heavy metals, which is defined as 1N NH4NO3-extractable heavy

metals, decreased with increasing biochar amount in the soil before lettuce cultivation.

The organic acid concentrations in the soils after-cultivation were negligible except

oxalic acid. The oxalic acid concentration increased with increasing biochar application

from 0% to 2% whereas it decreased with increasing biochar application from 5% to 10%,

which could be explained with DOC concentration and pH of soil. Cadmium

concentration in lettuce decreased with increasing biochar application ratios. This

tendency, however, was not significant for Pb, Zn, and Cu. There were highly significant

correlations between dry weight of lettuce and the phytoavailability of Cd, Pb and Cu.



Biochar for Climate Change Mitigation & Soil and Environmental

Management†

Sang Soo Lee, Mahtab Ahmad, Jung-Eun Lim, Yasser M. Awad, Se Hee Jung and

Yong Sik Ok*



Global threats such as climate change, land degradation, shortage of water resources,

environmental contamination lead to economic, social and environmental damages. These

should be immediately addressed without any delay to overcome the great disaster

occurring now or at least in the near future. To go through the urgent global treats, we

propose to use biochar (BC) that is charred organic matters, produced with the intents to

not only increase agricultural productivity resulted from maintained the organic C pool of

soils but also improve the environmental quality. Biochar has widely known as an agent

that may sequester >25% CO2 emission in the soils. Biochar can be produced by pyrolysis

of biomass at 300-1,000℃ with limited oxygen condition and its residence time has known

in the range of hundreds to thousands of years. At Kangwon National University, the

Biochar Research Center (BRC) established in 2011 is specialized in the BC research of 1)

material exploration/manufacturing, 2) remediation of organic/inorganic pollutants, 3)

energy renovation technology, and 4) technology development of climate change. One of

ongoing studies of BRC is to create the optimum BC obtained from domestic area, Korea,

for removal of organic/inorganic pollutants such as trichloroethylene (TCE) and heavy

metals. Specifically, BCs derived from soybean stover and peanut shells carbonized at 300

and 700℃ were used to remove trichloroethylene (TCE) in water. Linear relations

between sorption parameters and molar elemental ratios as well as surface area of BCs

indicated the dependency of TCE adsorption on BC properties. Relatively high adsorption

capacity of BCs produced at 700℃ was attributed to their high aromaticity and low

polarity. This findings suggest that carbonization temperature was a major control factor

for determining BC properties that influenced on TCE removal in water. For our plant

growth studies using oak BC at 10 Mg ha-1

, seed gemination and yield of maize (Zea mays

L.) and soybean (Glycine max) increased by up to 16.2 and 52.6% compared to untreated

soils. In addition, the increases in enzyme activities and microbial biomass as soil quality

parameters were also observed in soils treated with BC. We believe that the BC

application can be implemented for addressing current global issues and possibly lead to

low carbon green development in Korea.

Key words: Biochar, Carbon sequestration, Heavy metals, Organic pollutant, Soil organic

carbon

Acknowledgement: This work was carried out with the support of the "Cooperative


PJ0074092011)" Rural Development Administration and the Korea Ministry of

Environment as "The GAIA project (No.173-111-040)" in Republic of Korea.



* Corresponding author:



†

The abstract is reproduced from the proceedings of 2011 Symposium of the Korean

Society of Soil Science & Fertilizer.


Documents

The 1st International Symposium on Biochar