Sequestro di carbonio nel suolo e aumento della fertilitàe aumento della fertilità

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Giuseppe Alonzo, Pellegrino Conte

Dipartimento di Ingegneria e Tecnologie Agro‐Forestali

L’EFFICIENZA ENERGETICA LE RINNOVABILI E L’INNOVAZIONE IN AGRICOLTURAL’EFFICIENZA ENERGETICA, LE RINNOVABILI E L’INNOVAZIONE IN AGRICOLTURA

Roma, Lunedì 20 dicembre 2010,  ENEA – Via Giulio Romano, 41 

Carbon turnover

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Global Carbon pools and fluxes

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Sohi, S.Loez-Capel, E., Krull, E., Bol, R., 2009. Biochar's roles in soil and climate change. CSIRO Land and Water Science Report 05/09, 64 pp.. 3

Biochar is a type of charcoal with specific properties obtainedfrom gasification/pyrolysis of biomass Instead of burningfrom gasification/pyrolysis of biomass. Instead of burningstanding biomass from cleared forest, the resource is charred.

Matovick D. Biochar as a viable carbon sequestration option. Energy 2010 in Press

The two pillars that make biochar revolutionary are:- the affinity of nutrients and water retention (adsorption)- the high persistence (stability).

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The conversion of covalent or aromatic carbon bonds to

hit d 20 graphite produces 20 kJ/mole of heat which drives the pyrolysis process between 300 and 400°Cbetween 300 and 400°C

Biochar Structure mirrors Biochar Structure mirrors that of the biomass cellular structure

Biochar resists degradation and can hold carbon in soils and can hold carbon in soils for years.

We can use this simple, yet powerful, technology to store G-tons of carbon annually. It’s one of the few technologies that is relatively inexpensive, widely applicable, and quickly scalable.

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WOOD STRUCTUREWOOD STRUCTURE

// /From: http://www.techtp.com/Torrefaction for High Quality Wood Pellets.pdf

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Pyrolysis of Biomass Components (TGA)

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Cellulose

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Hemicellulose Lignin

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100 200 300 400 500 600 7000100 200 300 400 500 600 700

Temperature - C10

Physical structure and chemical properties depend on carbon bonding networkdepend on carbon bonding network

Biochar consists of very small graphite-like islands mirroring the biomass structurefrom which it is derived

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From the available published and peer-reviewed literature, only partial answers can be found for the eight key questions:

1) Is all biochar the same?

2) How stable is it?

3) I it f t ?3) Is it safe to use?

4) What are the agronomic benefits?

5) Is it economically viable?5) Is it economically viable?

6) What are the environmental and societal benefits?

7) Are the benefits of biochar in mitigating greenhouse gases7) Are the benefits of biochar in mitigating greenhouse gaseswidely accepted?

8) What are the research gaps and future challenges?

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Energy and biochar production

Biochars are different each other13

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Available research and trials mainly show that biochar amendments result in appreciable improvements of soilfertility:

1. soil cation exchange capacity is increased.

2. soil microbial functions are enhanced; the porousf bi h f f h f i bstructure of biochar forms a safe haven for microbes

that make nutrients available to crops.

3. nutrient retention capacity of soils is improved thus3. nutrient retention capacity of soils is improved thuspreventing leaching and erosion; this allows farmersto reduce organic and inorganic fertilizers.

4 t t ti it f il i i d th 4. water retention capacity of soils is improved; the porous structure of biochar holds water and preventsthe moisture from evaporating.

5. biochar variously affect soil pH depending on inorganic and organic soil constituents.

Biochar persistenceIt i di t d th t bi h i h i t t i il thIt is undisputed that biochar is much more persistent in soil thanany other form of organic matter that is commonly applied to soil.Therefore, all associated benefits with respect to nutrientretention and soil fertility are longer lasting than with alternativemanagement.

The long persistence of biochar in soil makes it a primeThe long persistence of biochar in soil makes it a primecandidate for the mitigation of climate change as a potential sinkfor atmospheric carbon dioxide.

1. biochar soils are stable manageable and measurable carbon sinks; they can be built up over time and remove CO2 from the atmosphere; soils can accumulate hundreds of tonnes of C atmosphere; soils can accumulate hundreds of tonnes of C while improving soil functions;

2. biochar systems halt slash-and-burn agriculture, and thus slow deforestation;slow deforestation;

3. biochar produced in efficient pyrolysis plants offers clean, renewable electricity without polluting emissions.

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Research in progress at the University of Palermo mainly in partnership with Advanced Gasification Technologies s r l and Fondazione Minoprio Advanced Gasification Technologies s.r.l. and Fondazione Minoprio

Radish seed germinating on biochar from olive tree woodbiochar from olive tree wood(450°C, 50 min)

Proton NMR relaxometry with fastProton NMR relaxometry with fast field cycling (FFC‐NMR) setup is developing as a very promising tool for the characterization of complexfor the characterization of complex matrices. The basic FFC‐NMR experiment consists in the application of aconsists in the application of a Zeeman magnetic field which cycles through three different values indicated as polarization (BPol), p ( ),relaxation (BRel), and acquisition (BAcq) field. 

The T1 relaxation times of the observed nuclei are measured at each fixed BRelintensity through a progressive variation of the frequency values. The longitudinal relaxation rates plotted versus the applied magnetic field strengths represent the NMRD profiles (or dispersion curves) which can provide information about physical/chemical properties of complex materials.

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Surface water-biochar interactions

Relevant to FFC-NMR are protons belonging to different chemical or physical domains.

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1) cotton; 2) marc; 3) poplar; 4) conifer 25

A collaborative effort:

Forschungszentrum JülichDr.ssa Anne E. BernsDr Peter BurauelDr. Peter Burauel

Universität Koblenz‐LandauProf.ssa Gabriele E. Schaumann

Brno University of Technology Research teamBrno University of TechnologyDr. Jiry Kučerik

Instituto de Recursos Naturalesy Agrobiología

G. AlonzoP. Contey Agrobiología

Prof.ssa Heike Knicker

ENEA ‐ Casaccia

P. ConteA. MicalizziC. De Pasquale

Dr. Carlo Alberto CampiottiAdvanced Gasification Technology S.r.l.Dr. Alessandro Pozzi

G. ButeraG. FontanaS SaladinoFondazione Minoprio

Dr. Massimo Valagussa

S. SaladinoV. MarsalaG. Cimò

It’s called fire.It recycles woodIt recycles wood