[Terrapreta] New gas sensors for monitoring carbon dioxide sinks

[Sean K. Barry]

Hi Laurens,

I think it is very important that CO2 emissions from fossil fuel burning and the production or use of fossil fuel derived products be recognized as the ONLY source of the strong pollutant, fossil fuel based CO2.  We can't just be concerned with monitoring CO2.  CO2 in and by itself is not the problem.  The source of the major inputs to the atmosphere of CO2, that is fossil fuel CO2, is the problem.

Fossil based carbon introductions into the atmosphere are going to turn the Earth into a place like Venus.  Did anyone know that Venus has about the same amount of carbon on it as does Earth?  Venus is about the same size as Earth, too.  The difference between the two planets is that much of the carbon on Venus is in the atmosphere, not in the ground, not in plants, not in mineral coal, or oil.  It is mostly in the atmosphere of Venus.  Venus has a global warming effect induced by high concentrations of CO2 in its atmosphere, that keeps it at a toasty 280 degrees C on the surface during the daylight!  It doesn't get much colder at night either.

Putting fossil carbon into the atmosphere on Earth has just got to STOP!   Even if we made lots of biomass into charcoal (which has about the same energy content as mineral coal, lb for lb) and then burned all of it up to get at the energy, then we would be better off, than continuing to use fossil carbon fuels.  This would be "carbon neutral" energy with no new introductions of carbon to the atmosphere.

If we can harvest what biomass there is, that grows annually, dies annually, and decays continuously as CO2 into the atmosphere and use that for conversion into charcoal, then we could harvest bio-energy while making the charcoal and we might be able to make enough charcoal to bury it into soil, improve agriculture, and sequester the carbon out of the atmosphere for once.

We need to quit harvesting fossil fuel carbon as an energy source.  We need to remove carbon from the atmosphere.  Formation of Terra Preta soils, including making charcoal from biomass is one very easy way to harvest (remove) carbon from the atmosphere.  It can provide energy.  It can improve food production.

If putting charcoal into soil increases the release of CO2 from soil organic carbon that was once in the soil, then SO WHAT!  It would not be fossil carbon and it would not be newly introduced to the atmosphere.  CO2 emissions from Biome sources, even at increased volumes is NOT A PROBLEM, when compared to emissions from the burning or use of fossil carbon fuels.

Does anybody get this?

We can't have a CO2 police.  We need to police the illegal USE of fossil carbon fuels.  We need to tax the SUE and sale of fossil carbon now, and tax it more and more heavily in the very near future until use of fossil carbon fuel stops and/or the emissions of CO2 from fossil carbon sources stops.

We also cannot make the immoral decision that burying biomass based charcoal carbon in soils will allow us to continue to use fossil based carbon fuels.


Regards,

SKB
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Laurens Rademakers<mailto:lrademakers at biopact.com> 
  To: terra pretta group<mailto:Terrapreta at bioenergylists.org> 
  Sent: Sunday, May 11, 2008 1:49 PM
  Subject: [Terrapreta] New gas sensors for monitoring carbon dioxide sinks


  This could be a very useful technology to speed up the gathering of scientific data on biochar's GHG profile:

  Press release from May 7th, 2008
  New gas sensors for monitoring carbon dioxide sinks
  A world first presented at IFAT 2008

  Munich/Halle (Saale). A novel gas sensor system makes it possible to monitor large areas cost-effectively the first time. The patented gas sensor is based on the principle of diffusion, according to which certain gases pass through a membrane faster than others. Using a tube-like sensor it is possible to measure an average gas concentration value over a certain distance without influencing or distorting conditions in the measuring environment. If such sensors are laid in a particular pattern, it is possible to calculate the concentration of a gas over an area. The measuring tube can therefore replace a large number of individual sensors, making it much cheaper than previous methods. The sensor was developed at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) and is being presented for the first time at the 15th International Trade Fair for Water - Sewage - Refuse - Recycling (IFAT), which is taking place from 5 to 9 May in Munich. 

  Potential fields of application for the membrane-based gas sensors ('MeGa') are environmental remediation and landfill monitoring. But in future the technology could also be used to monitor the underground injection of carbon dioxide, gas pipelines or sewers. The principle can also be used in liquids, so the probe is also useful for monitoring waterbodies (e.g. for observation of hydrogen sulphide formation), including groundwater, and for monitoring boreholes. The slimline construction of the borehole and waterbody probe means that it can be used in gauges. The (permanent) connection to the part above ground allows data capture/evaluation to take place while the probe is submerged. To our knowledge a device with these features has never previously been available anywhere in the world. Another potential field of application is process monitoring in water treatment or in the food industry, e.g. in breweries and dairies. 

  The researchers are hoping that in future their system can also contribute to more intelligent ventilation of indoor spaces. An excessive level of carbon dioxide leads to fatigue and health problems, while excessive ventilation means a waste of energy. In classrooms, lecture theatres of all kinds and in workplaces there are therefore recommendations for indoor air concentrations of 1000 and 3000 ppm. "Monitoring these indoor air concentrations has failed so far because of a lack of suitable, reasonably priced measuring methods linked to appropriate ventilation technology," explains Dr Detlef Lazik from the UFZ. "With our membrane-based gas sensors it is for instance possible to have decentralised ventilation using a ventilator that is controlled by a gas sensor. The ventilation is then simply switched on if an adjustable threshold value is exceeded." The same principle can be used for monitoring dangerous substances in mining, in buildings and facilities or in tunnels.

  The Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) will be represented at IFAT 2008, the specialist trade fair for water, sewage, refuse and recycling, in Munich from 5 to 9 May 2008. Experts at the UFZ stand (Stand 207) in Hall B1 will be providing information about managing contaminated sites and presenting the latest environmental technologies and new products. As well as MeGa, a membrane-based gas sensor for measuring carbon dioxide in waterbodies and in the soil, the UFZ will be displaying Carbo-Iron (a novel material for in situ remediation), RF-Heating (soil remediation through targeted heating) and Compartment Transfer (breaking down hazardous substances using semi-natural wetlands).

  For more information, please visit:
  IFAT-Ausstellerprogramm des UFZ
  SOURCE: http://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=16708<http://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=16708>

  There are some pics and a brochure about the sensors, and lots more info on soil biogeochemistry research at that website.

  Cheers, Lorenzo

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