Department of Chemistry Research
The Biochar Project
In 2014, Langara College was awarded a $25,000 grant by the National Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), under the College and Community Innovation Program. The Applied Research and Development grant (ARD) will provide valuable funding to new research in the biochar project developed and led by Chemistry instructor Kelly Sveinson.
About
In September 2011, Langara College began an active research project exploring the science of biochar production and use. Developed and led by Chemistry instructor Kelly Sveinson, the biochar experimental reactor explores the potential of converting certain solid wastes into biochar (more commonly known as charcoal).
The project uses Langara’s experimental biochar reactor to convert a variety of biomass wastes into biochar, a substance similar to charcoal. Produced from pyrolysis of biomass (such as wood), biochar is a form of carbon that is removed from the atmosphere and has climate change mitigation potential. Biochar has also been shown to have soil benefits, and so may be a valuable amendment for agriculture or forestry applications. It can also be used as a renewable solid fuel.
The Langara College Biochar Project uses a small batch pyrolysis reactor and well-equipped labs to study biochar making and properties. We select common biomass materials from the region, convert it to biochar, and measure the physical and chemical characteristics. We compare the source biomass and reactor conditions to the properties in order to understand the relationships. We also do simple growing trials to look for positive or negative effects on plants.
Kelly is partnering with McCue Engineering Contractors, a Vancouver based environmental remediation company, and Diacarbon Energy Inc., an innovative biochar production company located in Burnaby. The project includes a team of students.
What is Biochar?
Biochar is more commonly referred to as charcoal. It is produced by heating biomass (such as wood chips) in a low oxygen atmosphere (pyrolysis). Biochar has significantly different, and potentially more valuable, properties than the source biomass. One key difference is the nature of the carbon in the biochar. Biochar not only has a higher carbon content by weight than the biomass; moreover, it is structurally different such that it is recalcitrant to further reactions.
Benefits
There are several benefits to biochar production:
- Climate change mitigation: biochar can be used to remove and sequester carbon from the atmosphere.
- Beneficial agronomic properties: it can change soil pH, retain nutrients, hold water, and enhance microbial activity.
- Renewable energy product: the biochar is an energy rich solid, similar to high quality coal.
How biochar production reduces atmospheric CO2
- Extracting fossil fuel from the earth and burning it puts CO2 into the air.
- Growing biomass pulls CO2 from the air and incorporates it into itself.
- When the plants die, they decompose and the CO2 returns to the atmosphere.
- As an alternative to decomposition, the biomass is pyrolyzed.
- The biochar does not decompose and so stays out of the atmosphere.
“It has been a great exercise in problem-solving, critical thinking, and in applying the scientific method. And it has been an opportunity to contribute to research being done to promote sustainable solutions.”
– Marcus Stein
“Having a chance to come up with my own experimental methods has been an exciting adventure!”
– Hiromi Seguma
“For me, participating in the biochar project has been an opportunity to see up close how research develops, how various issues are tackled and how research is presented.”
– Pascale Rootham
