The best biochar begins as high quality charcoal. Using an age old method I achieve high temperature and the oxygen free conditions necessary for efficient pyrolysis. The charcoal produced by this method has very long chains of purified carbon crystal. The longer the molecular chain the longer the carbon will remain intact in the soil. The quality of charcoal for our purpose is measured by the length of carbon crystal. Surface area will of course increase as the quality of carbon crystal improves.
It is essential that high quality charcoal be used for biochar.
Using poor quality, high ash content chars will produce poor biochar with reduced longevity and even possible detrimental effects.
There are many different forms of charcoal from soot to graphite. Some is for heating or cooking, some is for industrial processes, some is used in brewing and filtering, and some is used in art. All are made and function differently as they are of different physical quality. For our purpose of soil amendment we want high quality or closer to graphite than soot. Soot are small particles and poor quality where graphite is long chains of carbon and high quality.
This video demonstrates the BEST method for producing high quality charcoal at home without access to industrial retort systems.
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Here are some videos demonstrating the same concepts I do but from a different perspective. ‪@theCodyReeder‬‪@theCodyReeder‬
• Charcoal in Cone Pit v...
• Effect of Biochar Part...