(266c) Biomass and Municipal Solid Waste Conversion to Biochar and Its Implications on Carbon Sequestration and Climate Change

Several agricultural residues and other carbonaceous wastes (food processing, railroad ties, biosolids, and municipal solid wastes, plastics, etc.) can be converted to stable biochar through pyrolysis and hydrothermal carbonization. Otherwise left alone to degrade, biomass will lead to biogenic methane, about 25 times more potent global warming gas than carbon dioxide. During the pyrolysis, bio-oils, syngas, and sensible heat can be recovered, making the process commercially viable. Biochar has excellent potential to achieve carbon dioxide removal and helps realize net-zero or net-negative greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals. The biochar approach is a viable climate change mitigation option. This presentation will be an overview of the conversion of several biomasses (agricultural and other hardwoods) into biochar, many applications of biochar, and its climate change mitigation potential.