Knowledge Tree
biochar
Also known as: biochars
Facts (23)
Sources
A critical review of industrial fiber hemp anatomy, agronomic ... bioresources.cnr.ncsu.edu 15 facts
claimHemp fines, historically referred to as hemp dust and treated as waste for landfill or composting, are currently being utilized in the manufacturing of absorbents, plastics, biofuel, and biochar.
claimBiochar's porous structure, characterized by a pore size greater than 50 nm, provides a habitat for microorganisms that protects them from predation by larger arthropods.
claimThe hemp industry is expanding applications beyond textiles, foods, cosmetics, and paper to include sustainable materials such as biofuel, biocomposites, biochemicals, bioplastics, and biochar, often utilizing co-production systems to improve economic feasibility.
claimTo achieve a negative carbon footprint, hemp biomass must be processed or stored in ways that prevent CO2 from re-entering the atmosphere, such as converting the biomass into biochar, which enriches soil while sequestering carbon, as noted by Adesina et al. (2020).
referenceVávrová et al. (2022) conducted an economic evaluation of hemp (Cannabis sativa) residual biomass for the production of direct energy or biochar in the journal Fuel.
measurementHemp residue and biochar increase soil enzymatic activities (including phosphodiesterase, arylsulfatase, acid phosphatase, β-glucosaminidase, and β-glucosidase) by 1 to 2 fold compared to hardwood biochar.
claimResearchers have utilized hydrothermal carbonization to convert hemp fines into biochar, which can improve soil fertility and limit greenhouse gas emissions like N2O.
claimThe high water-holding and adsorption capacity of biochar helps immobilize soil pollutants, reducing their migration and toxicity, which benefits soil microorganisms.
referenceHuang et al. (2023) examined the impacts and mechanisms of biochar on soil microorganisms in the journal Plant, Soil and Environment.
procedureHemp hurd, a byproduct of bast fiber generation, can be pyrolyzed and gasified with fir sawdust to produce biochar.
measurementHemp can generate 13 tonnes per hectare of biochar per year, which aids in carbon sequestration and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
claimSolid hemp fuels, such as biochar, pellets, and briquettes, serve as a cleaner alternative to wood fuel because they produce lower toxic emissions and reduce wood consumption.
claimBiochar yield depends on pyrolysis temperature, residence time, pH, and the carbon, hydrogen, and ash content of the feedstock.
claimIndustrial hemp biomass can be valorized into sustainable products including fibers, papers, packaging, textiles, biocomposites, biofuels, biochar, and bioplastics.
claimProcessing hemp hurds into bioproducts, biofuels, biochar, and energy materials valorizes the whole hemp plant and creates additional revenue streams.
Recent breakthroughs in the valorization of lignocellulosic biomass ... pubs.rsc.org Jun 7, 2025 3 facts
referenceNanda et al. (2013) published 'Characterization of North American Lignocellulosic Biomass and Biochars in Terms of Their Candidacy for Alternate Renewable Fuels' in Bioenergy Research, evaluating the suitability of specific biomass types for renewable fuel production.
claimThe durability of concrete increases when biochar is added at a concentration of 0.5–2% of the weight of the cement.
referenceS. Gupta, H. W. Kua, and S. D. Pang studied the effect of biochar on the mechanical and permeability properties of concrete exposed to elevated temperatures in 2020.
An integrated climate-biodiversity framework to improve planning ... ecologyandsociety.org 3 facts
referenceLi et al. (2020) conducted a meta-analysis finding that biochar increases soil microbial biomass but has variable effects on microbial diversity, as published in Science of the Total Environment.
claimFuture research could refine the Integrated Climate-Biodiversity Framework (ICBF) by incorporating the effects of biochar on soil microbial biodiversity, as studied by Li et al. (2020).
referenceStrategies identified for land use and biodiversity management include biochar, biofuel, biomass, brownfield redevelopment, densification/mixed use, crop diversification/rotation, drought-resilient species, energy conservation, integrated forest/agricultural land, permeable/green surfaces, protection of forest/non-forest natural spaces, renewable energy, trails/greenways, urban farms, urban vegetation, vegetation on slopes/banks, wildfire management, and wind turbines.
Impact of carbon dioxide removal technologies on deep ... - Nature nature.com Jun 17, 2021 2 facts
claimCarbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) technologies include Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS), Direct Air Capture (DAC), afforestation/reforestation, ocean fertilization, enhanced weathering of minerals, and biochar.
claimA carbon dioxide removal (CDR) portfolio could include bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS), direct air capture (DAC), afforestation/reforestation, ocean fertilization, enhanced weathering of minerals, and biochar.