Biochar provides new opportunities for small-diameter timber

Photo Credit

Sarah Farmer, USDA Forest Service

Antigone Burke and Brandy Benz are removing the fresh biochar from the machine and cooling it. The biochar will eventually be used in a study on ecological restoration. 

There are major differences between biochars made from hardwoods and softwoods. They exhibit significant differences in chemical and physical properties, with hardwoods having considerably greater ability to absorb heavy metals. New work by SRS researchers focuses on using the CharBoss air curtain burner to produce and test biochars made from specific hardwoods with different chemical and physical properties.

The CharBoss can consume up to a ton of material per hour, producing about 350 pounds of biochar - a level of production sufficient for field applications. Biochar production may provide a valuable product option for forest landowners looking for a market for wood that is too small to be used for timber.

The Southern Region and the Washington Office of the Forest Service acquired funding for the CharBoss. The machine itself was developed through a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement between Air Burners, Inc. and the USDA Forest Service.