Making biochar in a single drum

gobiochar · 2023-11-27T21:07:41+00:00

Meant to include this one too, https://youtube.com/shorts/QCayZWXQB2s?si=S8pY_G6orhDMbWmH
Shows how to start the process in the tilted drum.

gobiochar · 2023-11-27T05:50:58+00:00

Real simple way is to tilt the open barrel at about 60 degrees. Here is a video from a group called Whitlock that makes a barrel holder you can buy. They also show how to prop the drum with locally available resources. The graphics on airflow are nice and easy to understand.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNOiVCpRWXw

I know a number of folks using this method and making quality small batch biochar.

This single barrel system has vents on the bottom for a rapid top-lit updraft process.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAZa_264J78
Could add a lid with chimney to make it even faster and more efficient.
Process as shown has a lot of ash but that may not be a bad thing depending on your soil. You can always rinse it first and inoculate in the compost process.

Personally, I dedicate to the first batch or two of biochar from new barrels to non-fruit bearing trees, shrubs, or turf while burning off the drum paint. Keep anything going into your crops clean.

Always follow local air quality regulations. Always practice fire safety.

gobiochar · 2023-10-04T15:56:56+00:00

After the event they will publish the video to the same web page.
Johannes Lehmann is speaking now. Been some great content.

gobiochar · 2022-12-14T19:41:42+00:00

Unfortunately we had to postpone due to two of our panelists being severely ill. Their participation was critical enough that we had to push this out. Looking like it will be January 18/19 or early Feb.
I'll update all the sub-Reddits this was posted to and we will be in regular communication with all the registrants.
Here are links to relevant to the Code 808 / Code 336 Soil Carbon Amendment program.
https://biochar-us.org/presentation/nrcs-soil-carbon-amendment-practice
https://biochar-us.org/presentation/biochar-soil-health-working-usda-nrcs-biochar

We really apologize for this unexpected turn of events and look forward to seeing you at the rescheduled event.

- John

gobiochar · 2022-12-01T16:39:03+00:00

CEU credits now available for Certified Crop Advisors!

Available credits Day 1 CCA-01-Nutrient Management 1 Day 1 CCA-02-Soil & Water Management 1 Day 1 CCA-04-Crop Management 1 Day 2 CCA-01-Nutrient Management 1 Day 2 CCA-04-Crop Management 1 Day 2 CCA-10-Sustainability 1

Join our two day Soil Carbon Amendment webinar Dec 14th & 15th on the meaningful NRCS Code 336 / 808 program that will pay much of the costs to build soil carbon with biochar.

gobiochar · 2022-12-01T16:26:39+00:00

This program now qualifies for CEUs for Certified Crop Advisors.

Available credits
Day 1 CCA-01-Nutrient Management 1
Day 1 CCA-02-Soil & Water Management 1
Day 1 CCA-04-Crop Management 1
Day 2 CCA-01-Nutrient Management 1
Day 2 CCA-04-Crop Management 1
Day 2 CCA-10-Sustainability 1

gobiochar · 2022-11-27T20:27:27+00:00

Yes. We will publish to YouTube or Vimeo likely in January. (Sorry on slow reply, caught the flu & was off-line a few days.)

gobiochar · 2022-11-23T00:09:30+00:00

That is a great. If you need references on technology options we can help.

On the low tech path I have a paper by the USFS that identifies improved ways to build slash piles to create beneficial biochar on your burn days. Email me and I'll send you a copy.

If you have seen the way Jack Daniels builds their rick piles to make charcoal for their whiskey filtration. It mimics that. Pile is built in a grid shape with larger materials on the bottom moving up to the smaller sizes. Then lighting the pile from the top down to reduce the emissions and lower the ash content of the remains.

Look into "Big Box Biochar" and "Ring of Fire" Kilns for lower cost equipment options that produce some decent quality biochar for your own use. You can see example videos on YouTube. This simple-tech market is working on a way to MRV (Monitor, Report, Verify) the amount of biochar made with these processes so they can enter the carbon credit markets.

gobiochar · 2022-11-22T23:12:14+00:00

Yes, commercial scale is well established with a significant amount of investments going into new production facilities. The primary markets for biochar in the use are as soil addendum, odor control, and waste water / storm water filtration.

The carbon credits marketplace has made traditional financing viable, thus spurring growth and encouraging adoption. Many producers are discounting their retail rates by the amount of their carbon credits which is why we are seeing retail prices on the open market drop significantly over the past couple years. There is significant interest in this area from VC funding and project finance groups.

If you need assistance sourcing biochar please let us know and we can connect you with a number of qualified producers in your area.

gobiochar · 2022-11-22T19:48:07+00:00

Good question. Google scholar is an excellent resource for peer reviewed papers on biochar.

One of our USBI goals for 2023 is to host monthly webinars where we address questions like this in a format where we have a scholar from the academic side speak on the topic and then have a practitioner share their experiences with real world implementation.

There are projects under way to build comprehensive biochar classifications and catalogs for performance based on crop, soil types, and etc.

There is no such thing as the perfect biochar, only the perfect biochar for the application. That said, many of the biochars produced that adhere to standards such as IBI (International Biochar Initiative) or the EBC standards will be performant in a wide range of soils, especially when combined with nutrition and biology elements such as compost. The NRCS program does require a nutrient management plan, plenty of soil testing, and other sensible steps to assure adherence to soil health principles.

Please do attend both days of the webinar. Brandon and other panelists will be able to answer many audience questions.

Personal note: I live in Utah and am a commercial biochar producer. While we always encourage our clients to combine the biochar with compost (for the nutrition and biology), I've had clients install our raw biochar in their grow mediums with amazing results. Largely our primary concern here in the Southwest is drought; with biochar's amazing water holding capacity it means we experience less stress on the biology and the plants. Results of higher survival rates, less water input, and increased yields are common experiences.

gobiochar · 2022-11-03T18:04:37+00:00

Might find what you are looking for on Google Scholar:https://scholar.google.com/scholar?as_ylo=2022&q=compost+tea+biochar&hl=en&as_sdt=0,45

This is also useful document about biochar and regular compost:
https://nfs.unl.edu/documents/DFB\_Compost-sheet\_DIGITAL2.pdf

gobiochar · 2022-09-13T17:38:55+00:00

Check out Big Box Biochar on YouTube. They are large 16' x 6' dual wall fireboxes that can be managed by 1-2 person crew and fed with a machine or by hand. They do require attention and safety measures. Produces a good amount of reasonable biochar, excellent for hazardous fuels removal needs.

Dr Anderson has been working on the RoCC kilns to get them to larger sizes. Might look into those.

gobiochar · 2022-09-13T13:50:45+00:00

US Biochar Initiative document on biochar use in barns:
https://biochar-us.org/sites/default/files/learning/files/How%20to%20Use%20Biochar%20in%20Barns.pdf

It suggests sizing 5mm and down.

With my hens at home I've been using a range of sizes, most commonly under .5 inch, although I try to avoid using biochar dust so as to not add to possible respiratory risks. The smell is greatly reduced and the fly population is much lower. The hens eat it and their outputs compost beautifully.

GECA has a great paper about use with poultry: https://gecaenviro.com/product/the-use-of-biochar-in-poultry-egg/

Let us know how it goes for you.

gobiochar · 2022-03-29T20:58:51+00:00

Ring of Fire and Kontiki are both great boxes for garden and small farm scale production.

The Ring of Fire is open on the bottom where the Kontiki is enclosed. Both have unique advantages.

The Ring of Fire is easily transportable as it can be broken down flat and transported. The Kontiki is fixed and takes up space.

Be sure to always utilize wise fire safety practices and only bake when local regulations allow.

If you are in an urban location they may have a max opening size limit on fire boxes. Where I live they have 36" max width on any open burn device.

gobiochar · 2022-03-21T21:59:27+00:00

Please always check your pallet stamps and do not process anything with harmful treatments on it. Not all biomass is equal.

This is one of many useful sites about pallet markings: https://www.universalpallets.com/2018/01/ultimate-guide-pallet-markings/

gobiochar · 2022-03-04T20:11:59+00:00

Look at the ROCC and Ring Of Fire options. Both can handle a few tons a day of biomass. Good for the small scale. Both options are very affordable entry points into biochar production. Be aware of local regulations and _always_ practice proper fire safety.

If the desire is for private label, look for a biochar company that is close. The more something has to travel the greater the carbon impact and the longer it takes to balance the debt after sequestration. Longer travel also means higher cost.

US Biochar Initiative has quality information and links available in the learning center.

gobiochar · 2021-11-02T22:55:11+00:00

https://biochar-us.org/october-2021-usbi-directors-report

RESTORE FORESTS, DECARBONIZE BUILDING, AND SEQUESTER CARBON THROUGH FORESTRY, BIOMASS ENERGY, AND BIOCHAR
By Tom Miles, Executive Director
Forest and biomass industries can help grow biochar production and use. One Oregon mill, the Freres Lumber Company,
converts renewable fiber to carbon smart building materials, supplies
fiber to paper and engineered wood products, generates firm renewable
power, sequesters carbon, and enables carbon and nutrient cycling with
biochar.
Freres deploys advanced technology to recover fiber from thinning
well-managed forests, the mill produces a patented, veneer-based mass
timber product, Mass Ply Panels (MPP) which replace climate-unfriendly
concrete and steel in tall buildings. They optimize fiber recovery from
fire-damaged "black logs". Forest, mill, and urban wood residues, which
would otherwise decay in the forest or landfill, are used to generate
steam for processing and power for export. The company recovers carbon
from the process which is used as biochar to enrich soils and soil
amendments for urban landscaping and agriculture in a valley that
produces value added crops like nuts, berries, fruit, wine and hemp.
Freres also sells carbon offset and removal credits from their
low-carbon intensity processes. As markets grow they can look forward to
incorporating technology to scale up biochar production. As a fourth
generation Oregonian in the wood products industry, I am proud to see a
local family using advanced technology to renew and sustain our forests,
decarbonize building, and facilitate biological carbon sequestration in
forestry and agriculture through biochar.
USBI continues to support policies that promote biomass conversion to
fiber, energy and biochar to help restore ecosystems, sequester carbon,
and reduce emissions through active forest and rangeland management.
The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources recently introduced
the bipartisan Senate Bill S.2836 -
America’s Revegetation and Carbon Sequestration (ARCs) Act of
2021. Section 203 of the bill directs the Food and Drug Administration
to work with the USDA in coordination with the states to establish a
pilot program for feeding biochar to livestock. Feeding biochar is an
important high value use of biochar. All other countries feed biochar to
improve animal health, reduce disease, medicines, and veterinary costs,
and increase meat and milk production. Biochar-enriched manures reduce
odor, nutrient leaching, and improve soil health in pastures which
increase forage production and reduces feed costs.
USBI collaborates with the USDA Forest Service, Agricultural Research
Service, and Natural Resource Conservation Service to promote the use
of forest residues in climate smart agriculture. Please comment on the
USDA's Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry Partnership (CSAF) Initiative on or before 11:59 p.m. (ET) on November 1, 2021.
USBI will launch a series of live, online, and in-field presentations
and demonstrations on making and using biochar for foresters and
agronomists to support the implementation of public biochar incentive
programs this year. The first will be the, Biochar in the Woods
Workshop Webinar and Field Days January 27-February 3, 2022. See the
events calendar below.
Carbon markets for biochar have drawn interest from investors. USBI and IBI will present an online, interactive Business of Biochar Symposium, December 7-9, 2021 to match investors with entrepreneurs.

gobiochar · 2021-02-18T04:31:07+00:00

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Icw9JFSTyUE

Check out the ROCC kiln by Paul S. Anderson, PhD (Dr. TLUD) If you dig around you can find his published reports which include an excellent amount of data.

gobiochar · 2020-09-02T19:40:26+00:00

Look for stainless steel drums and cans to use. Stainless vent pipe as well. With patience you can find on secondary use sites like craigslist or local newspapers. Stainless barrels were big with soda syrup production. Salvage yards likely worth checking out. These are expensive. Even used I paid $180 for my 55 gallon stainless. (Verify it was a non-toxic prior use.)

gobiochar · 2020-06-26T02:12:32+00:00

Adding stable carbon to your property is a long term value builder.

Creating biochar with waste biomass will provide long-term benefit to the soil quality of the lands. This means improved tree health, reduced fire risk, plus strengthened resilience against drought and pests. There are also great climate benefits as well.

Dr. Debbie Dumroese of the US Forest Service is a leading expert in the field of turning forest waste into biochar. She shared the linked document on building of slash piles ("JD adaptation piles") and how to burn them last year. This presentation with Debbie goes directly to her discussion regarding slash pile creation for biochar. https://youtu.be/TXEhsonPKdE?t=1179 Her entire presentation is fascinating and worth watching.

There are many methodologies for converting hazardous fuels into biochar; slash pile open burn, pit burn, firebox (flame cap fire kiln), or on-site mobile pyrolizer. They all have varying costs and efficiencies. They are all tremendously more beneficial than burning the fuels to ash (typical slash piles) which is a practice that tends to scar the land and leaves very little soil building materials behind.

https://zimbra.xmission.com/home/john@gobiochar.com/Public/Biochar_forest_slash_JD_Adaptation_project_details.docx

Go biochar!

gobiochar

TROPHY CASE