[Terrapreta] Low Temp Chars

[Sean K. Barry]

Hi Allen,

Welcome to the Terra Preta list.  You, know the only thing I ever read outside the postings on this list about low temp. vs. high temp charcoal
has been, I think, mostly hypothetical.  It is hypothesized that charcoal was made by the ancient Amazonians in a very simple way as a "slash and char" operation performed right on the ground in the jungle.  Because of this, is is assumed that the charcoal produced by such methods is low temperature.  Additionally, I think it has been assumed that the longer hydrocarbon strings left in low temp. char (known as the volatile matter, pyroligneous acids, bio-oils, acetic acid, wood vinegar, and etc. various other names) may represent food for soil microorganisms.

I do not doubt the possibility of these claims.  However, I have not as yet seen any proof presented anywhere to support them.  It would be nice, if this group had in it's membership, any microbiologists who could enlighten us as to what the actual metabolic processes of soil micro flora are.  I think we do a lot of guessing, otherwise, without that.  We could conduct our own experimentation, but it may be a long haul before we could actually make and experimentally supported theoretical statements.

Regards,

Sean K. Barry
Principal Engineer/Owner
Troposphere Energy, LLC
11170 142nd St. N.
Stillwater, MN 55082
(651) 351-0711 (Home/Fax)
(651) 285-0904 (Cell)
sean.barry at juno.com<mailto:sean.barry at juno.com>

----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Allan Balliett<mailto:aballiett at frontiernet.net> 
  To: terrapreta at bioenergylists.org<mailto:terrapreta at bioenergylists.org> 
  Sent: Wednesday, April 25, 2007 5:00 AM
  Subject: [Terrapreta] Low Temp Chars


  Earlier, The Man from Videotron, Frank Teuton said:

  >As I understand it the point of the New Green known as Black is to tap the
  >biomass potential for fuels and return part of the materials to soils to
  >achieve better soils and carbon negativity. The recommendations to char at
  >relatively low temperatures and to not allow random offgassing of byproducts
  >are in the vein of environmental concerns...the low temps allows more oils
  >and other materials to stay with the char with biological benefits to soil
  >life, but also to allow the preservation of better char structure, ie, more
  >complex habitat for the soil foodweb. The edible materials that stay in low
  >temp char are relatively rapidly consumed, as I understand it...but the
  >structure of low temp char should be its structure for hundreds of years or
  >more.
  >
  >Adding high temp char to soil may be a nice thing to do for carbon
  >sequestration reasons, but it doesn't have the 'win-win' character of adding
  >better quality char to soils, as I understand the argument.

  As one who is very impressed by the archaeological record of terra 
  preta, I'm wondering what the science is on high hardware char. Is 
  there any or is this just a reasonable theory, an effort to 
  differentiate by-products?


  I know it's being said, but I haven't seen any proof. Has anyone?

  Or were traditional charcoal making methods making this low temp char 
  with smoldering banked fires?


  I'm new to the list, hopefully, this there is an obvious answer to 
  this question:

  Has anyone found a reliable source of affordable charcoal fines? I'd 
  appreciate a referral.

  Thanks

  -Allan Balliett
  Fresh and Local CSA
  www.freshandlocalcsa.com<http://www.freshandlocalcsa.com/>

  PS You can find a copy of portions of my recent interview with 
  Charles C. Mann at 
  http://www.acresusa.com/magazines/archives/0407InterviewMann.htm<http://www.acresusa.com/magazines/archives/0407InterviewMann.htm>

  _______________________________________________
  Terrapreta mailing list
  Terrapreta at bioenergylists.org<mailto:Terrapreta at bioenergylists.org>
  http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/biochar/<http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/biochar/>

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: /pipermail/terrapreta_bioenergylists.org/attachments/20070425/70f49b6f/attachment.html