The process of obtaining biochar and the development of the products thus obtained

Abstract

Biochar continues to strengthen its presence in many new industries with its new applications, which are full of scientific and business news. A flurry of activity has sprung up around this carbon-based material, produced from biomass, following its use in water treatment, energy production and animal husbandry. In any new industry, process and product development, as well as feasibility studies, are very important for the product to come to market. This is especially true when it comes to biochar. Besides being in its infancy as an industry, biochar itself presents a number of challenges that make various tests necessary. Many properties affect the quality and performance of biochar products (pore size, cation exchange, electro- conductivity...) and will most likely vary depending on the starting material and the method of obtaining. Biochar can be made from a very long list of biomass materials. Although the above creates opportunities for industries that abound with highly adaptable products, it can still make biochar unpredictable, given that each starting material affects the characteristics of the final products differently.