[Terrapreta] Where to get the right charcoal?

[ch braun]

Hello,

That's indeed exactly the purpose of the "Charcoal Specification" I am
working on. Registering a detailed set of data for a given charcoal
experiment in a standard and formalized way that simplifies comparisons and
allow powerful analysis.
The current version of the spec is here:
http://bionecho.org/terrapreta/charcoalspec.xml
http://bionecho.org/terrapreta/charcoalspec.txt

I am currently programming the user interface which will automatically
convert the data given by the user in a form in the standard format. I am
actively working on it, and you willl be able to test it pretty soon!

By the way, I am still very interested in collecting any sample of
experimental data you, charcoal experimenter, may already have saved in your
computer. This neither needs to be a "formalized" nor large set of data, but
it would allow me to better target the needs/expectations of the potential
future users of the Charcoal specification... So, any excel spreadsheet,
word file... with trials data laying around?

Sincerely yours,
Christelle


On 9/25/07, Sean K. Barry <sean.barry at juno.com> wrote:
>
>  Hi 'terrapreta' list,
>
> Our topical subject is: *Where to get the right charcoal?*
>
> Right now, nobody knows for sure what the "best" (or right) kind of
> charcoal is or where to get it.  Some have proposed that higher VM content
> results from lower temperature processing in the making of charcoal and that
> this is "better" char to use for a soil amendment to help plants.  This
> makes a good variable to test, I think.  If we can find a source for
> different temperature chars, then we can test these and compare.
>
> I heard Robert  Flanagan mention some time way back, that he was able to
> make temperature specific chars or knew of some group who could.  I hope to
> be able to make temperature specific chars when I have my reactor running
> with the bugs worked out (fairly soon, I hope).
>
> VM content and the associated temperature is not necessarily the only
> thing that differentiates quality of charcoal.  I think feedstock selection
> may also make a difference.  Michael J. Antal at UH had descriptions in his
> papers that they had tried several different feed
> stocks.  Maybe he could shed more light on how this effects char
> properties for us?  I am willing to try different feed stocks and will be
> able to get characterizations made on all of charcoal I can produce.
>
> Porosity of the charcoal may also impart qualities to the charcoal.
>
> Availability of charcoal which has been "characterized" is rare,
> admittedly.  Many of us are just interested enough in the idea of just
> putting charcoal of any type, from any source, into soil, just to see what
> it can do.  I don't see this as a problem.  More attempts at finding a
> working recipe are welcome I think.  It may just give us more clarity about
> what really does make the "right" char, if in hindsight a good field example
> can be traced back to specific properties or source of the char used in the
> trial.
>
> Making charcoal can be a source of charcoal to put into soil, too.
> Although it is true that it can be made inefficiently and not so cleanly
> with some very simplistic methods, there still may be validity in just
> making it any old way just to get at some.  Again, if a trial can be
> documented as successful (compared to an appropriate control), then however
> the char was got at, or whatever it has as properties can be discovered in a
> post-facto study of the charcoal itself.  We could correct the problems with
> its production at that time.  Hopefully, the "right" char is not the stuff
> that is made the most inefficiently and with the highest amount of
> detrimental emissions.
>
> So, in summary, I say that for right now, the place to get the "right"
> charcoal is wherever or however you can get it.  We can make determinations
> together about the respective quality or "rightness" of the charcoal after
> we have some more experimental data showing us significant trends.
> Christelle Braun has offered to help organize experimental data for our
> review.
>
> I await any further contributions to this line of discussion.
>
>
> Regards,
>
> SKB
>
>
>
>
>
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