[Terrapreta] C02 Tree Capture - or miscanthus...

[Sean K. Barry]

Hi Gerrit,

I think Miscanthus giganteus could be made into charcoal.  It has a very high biomass yield per acre.  It is a perennial grass.  If it is dried and chopped, I do not see why it could not be carbonized using a pyrolysis reaction.  I think it might make a very fine char.  Fine, in the sense that it is small particulate size.  I wonder if the ash content of the charcoal might be higher than chars made from other biomass (for instance oak, which has very low ash content)?

Regards,

SKB
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Gerald Van Koeverden<mailto:vnkvrdn at yahoo.ca> 
  To: Terrapreta preta<mailto:terrapreta at bioenergylists.org> 
  Sent: Wednesday, December 05, 2007 4:21 PM
  Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] C02 Tree Capture - or miscanthus...


  Lou, 


  Here in Canada, it seems that researchers have practically given up on trees like poplar and willow for fuel (7-10 tons odm/acre) for our temperate climate;  switchgrass hasn't caught on either.  At present, the local buzz is about cold-tolerant varieties of miscanthus - 15 tons odm/acre.  Either for directly heating vegetable greenhouses or for the 'imminent'(?)  cellulose-to-ethanol route...  Miscnathus stands can apparently produce for 30 years after one planting with virtually no fertilization.


  Of course, this wouldn't produce charcoal, unless one is using pyrolysis as the treatment process.  But even then, would first, the quality of char produced be good enough for long-term soil amendment? and secondly, the char would probably be sold for an industrial application anyways to maximize returns from investment...


  The only advantage of planting miscanthus for energy, would be its carbon-neutral status...


  Gerrit


  On 5-Dec-07, at 8:39 AM, lou gold wrote:


    Oooops, I missed the "wood for charcoal question". This one is complex and there is no way I can do it justice. Here are just a few considerations...

    1. Again, it is most paramount that primary forests are not cut for this purpose. 

    2. Here in Brazil, eucalyptus is grown for charcoal on a huge scale. It even fuels the iron foundries. This is what you do when there is no cheap coal available. I am told told that there are better and worse ways to do it. Cutting primary forests for the first round of charcoal and replacing them with eucalyptus plantations is a bad way. Vast eucalyptus monocultures are a bad way. Placing eucalyptus stands as one of several crops in a diversified farming operation is a good way. 

    3. I'm very uneasy about the new ethanol from cellulose approach with genetically modified trees but I'm not qualified to have a real intelligent judgment here.

    4, I would vastly prefer to see wood wastes go into producing char for the soil instead of for fuel or co-generation. 

    OK, that's a start -- barely scratches the surface I'm sure. 

    hugs,   lou




    On Dec 5, 2007 11:14 AM, lou gold <lou.gold at gmail.com <mailto:lou.gold at gmail.com>> wrote:

      Hmmm. Did ya watch the video? It clearly states that soil and water are the main limiting factors. Therefore, if you want to have plants and trees pulling CO2 out of the atmosphere, you better work on soil fertility and its ability to retain water. Perfect tasks for TP. 

      I don't consider myself as a spokesperson for the tree-huggers. Actually, across the past year, Terra Preta maybe transforming my awareness and ideology more toward conscious farming. The main inspiration of TP for me is that the El Dorado story says that once there was a civilization of high density populations living in harmony with nature and  forests. This is very contrary to the history of western civilization which advanced via deforestation. Indeed, it is so different that it might constitute a vitally necessary paradigm shift and carry us from the issues of scarcity into the joys of abundance. I don't know that this is true. I suspect it might be. I want to find out. 

      I believe strongly that we need to stop logging any more intact primary forests. A complete halt is unlikely. All steps of avoided or reduced deforestation need to be rewarded. Carbon credits are a good way.

      As far as as intelligent forest management is concerned, I recommend that you check out the Menominee Tribal Forest which has won many awards and recognitions. http://www.menominee.edu/sdi/RAndEMission.html <http://www.menominee.edu/sdi/RAndEMission.html>

      hugs,

      lou 



      On Dec 5, 2007 10:12 AM, Kevin Chisholm <kchisholm at ca.inter.net<mailto:kchisholm at ca.inter.net> > wrote:

        Dear David and Lou

        Most of us on the Terra Preta List have an "environmentally responsible
        leaning", a sense of beauty, and an appreciation of the good things a
        tree can do. However, what I see is that extremism seldom works in an 
        optimal manner. Mother Nature is smart, and she seems to favor
        diversity. It is absolutely impossible for Man to exist on this Earth
        without interacting with Mother Nature. Either we get Divorced and one
        of us leaves, or we find ways that we can live on Earth in a sustainable 
        basis. Otherwise, one of us will die, and the other will be seriously
        injured.

        As Representatives of our "Resident Tree Huggers", what would you and
        David recommend as tree cutting guidelines  acceptable to the Tree Huggers? 

        Under what conditions would the Tree Hugging Community agree to using
        wood as a source of carbon for Terra Preta?

        Kevin


        lou gold wrote:
        > Good Morning to All, 
        >
        > Another good one from ABC.
        > http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/s1901661.htm<http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/s1901661.htm>
        >
        > I draw the lesson that if one wants trees and other plants to capture 
        > carbon it's best to work on renewing the soil.
        >
        > hugs,   lou
        >
        >

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