[Terrapreta] vascular elements

[Richard Haard]

Mark

If this image transmits (It is a clip from Ogawa's powerpoint at UGA)  
it gives an idea of scale needed for fungal utilization. We are not  
needing ultrasmall scale. Smaller cell structure is utilized by  
bacteria as he has shown. Not sure what biological utilization there  
could be at molecular scale as in these fullerene structures . His  
presentation and other writings dwelled on utilization by mycorrhizial  
fungi, Frankia, and AZotabacter as biological mechanism of charcoal  
benefit in soil.

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On Jun 3, 2008, at 12:40 AM, Mark Ludlow wrote:

> Dr. Haard & List,
>
> I am interested in the morphology of carbonized angiosperm (or  
> gymnosperm!)
> wood, including, of course, typical char from TP sites. Is there a  
> reference
> or paper that includes SEMs or x-ray characterizations that you are  
> familiar
> with?
>
> Many functional attributes claimed for biochar (at least on the TP  
> list)
> seem contradictory; some, such as a purported ability to adsorb at the
> molecular scale, seem more characteristic of activated chars which  
> have
> cage-like fullerene structures far too small to allow biogrowth. I  
> assume
> that not all biochar is homogeneous, even at the microporous level,  
> but what
> structural/functional relationships exist between char and its  
> immediate
> biological communities? What balance of macro/micro structures are  
> ideal?
> For now, it seems as if we are seeking to specify temperatures of  
> production
> with the end result of not volatilizing, completely, some compounds  
> which
> are recognized as being beneficial to soil flora. But surely the  
> mechanisms
> of benefit must not be proportionately static over the millennia(?)
>
> http://www.pnas.org/cgi/reprint/6/4/178.pdf suggests that activation  
> can
> occur at room temperature over a time span of some years.
>
> Mark
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: terrapreta-bounces at bioenergylists.org
> [mailto:terrapreta-bounces at bioenergylists.org] On Behalf Of Richard  
> Haard
> Sent: Monday, June 02, 2008 11:24 PM
> To: Robert Klein
> Cc: Terrapreta
> Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] vascular elements
>
> Not sure what you mean here Robert. Do you have scanning EM of coke
> that compares microstructure to carbonized angiosperm wood?
>
> Are there studies that have shown benefits of powdered coke in soil or
> is this your own opinion?
>
> I would also be concerned about trace elements that come along with
> the coal/lignite/coke. Such as As, Hg and Cd.
>
> Coke could be powdered in a ball mill or mining processing equipment.
> Sequestering coal carbon after gasification would indeed eliminate
> greenhouse gasses. Is this alternative under study anywhere. ??
>
> Rich
> On Jun 2, 2008, at 10:59 PM, Robert Klein wrote:
>
>> If the temperature is high enough, we get a porous end product with
>> all other constituents reduced or eliminated.  Biochar is done at a
>> temperature that likely yields only a fraction of the potential
>> inert high temperature form of carbon.  In other words the product
>> is a blend that is likely better accepted by the soil.
>>
>> At very high temperatures coal becomes coke which is also incredibly
>> porous and as tough as steel.  I think powdered coke would be very
>> good in soils, but I suspect that it is almost unmakable.
>>
>> That is why biochar must be produced from plant waste since it is
>> naturally prepowdered.  Wood is not.  I suspect that the best
>> results can pass  a very fine screen, wheras very little wood
>> charcoal can do so.
>>
>> arclein
>
>
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