Mercedez Vainuku

Chemistry Honors
Wickelson

Biochar Background Research Paper

The carbon cycle is a complex and never ending cycle that shows where and how carbon
dioxide is released into the air. According to the law of conservation of mass, nothing can be
created nor destroyed, so therefore the amount of carbon dioxide is still the same from billions of
years ago. This image below shows how emissions from factories are released into the
atmosphere, then when it rains carbon dioxide is dissolved within it. Animals eat those plants
and release it through various ways and decomposers release gases, and fossil fuels are used for
more industrial activity. This process is continuous. Carbon dioxide is one of the biggest factors
of global warming and is the main focus in this particular science project, because we are trying

to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere, by using something called

biochar.
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What is biochar? Biochar is when a piece or pieces of biomass have been oxidized, or in
other words burnt. The process of burning biomass is called pyrolysis. Biocharring things can
potentially become a big or maybe huge thing that could reduce the amount of carbon dioxide
that is released in the atmosphere. When you burn a piece of biomass there is a lot of carbon
dioxide released from it, but the existing plants around it, absorb all the carbon dioxide so there
is no harm done and it keeps an active balanced carbon cycle. Also, when the biocharred
substance is left to decompose, it doesnt release as much CO as a regular decomposing piece of
biomass, because it traps the CO within itself. This is why biochar has been used in agriculture
for more than 2,500 years. (United States Biochar Initiative, 2009) After intensive study,

biochar has been appreciated as a soil enhancer. Biochar also improves water quality and
quantity by increasing soil retention of nutrient and agrochemicals for plant and crop utilization.
More nutrients stay in the soil instead of heading into ground water and causing pollution.
(International Biochar Initiative, 2013)
In conclusion, there have been many studies on biochar and pyrolysis that have been
carefully examined by thousands of scientists. Most of which conclude in biochar being a great
and very efficient way to decrease the amount of CO released into the atmosphere.

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Bibliography
International Biochar Initiative. Retrieved: May 29, 2013 www.biochar-international.org
Oracle Think Quest Education Foundation. Retrieved: May 29, 2013
Library.thinkquest.org
United States Biochar Initiative. Retrieved: May 30, 2013 www.biochar-us.org