This work was funded by the Government of Canada&#8217;s Federal Economic Development Agency (FedDev) Applied Research and Commercialization Extension to Queen&#8217;s University (Dr. Allison Rutter and Dr. Darko Matovic). Sincerest thank you to Burt&#8217;s Greenhouses (Odessa, ON) for providing the biochars. Special thanks to Yuxing Cui of the CBRN Protection Group at RMC and staff of the ASU and Zeeb Lab for their ongoing support.

The authors declare that they have no competing financial interests.

All of the methods listed in the protocol have been carefully validated and extensively used for soils. As biochar characterization is still in its infancy, the effectiveness of these methods for the carbon-rich substrate was largely unknown. Hence, although these methods themselves are not novel, their application to routinely characterize biochar is. In terms of quality assurance/ quality control, there were no issues among any of the methods with respect to the blanks being below detection limits or the recoveries bei...

Biochar is a carbon-rich by-product produced during the pyrolysis of organic matter 1. Interest, both publicly and academically, in adding biochar to soils, stems from its ability to improve soil quality and plant growth 2, 3, sustainably sequester carbon 4, and sorb harmful contaminants 2, 3, 5-7 whilst simultaneously offering alternatives for waste management and energy production by pyrolysis.
Biochars are being produced by numerous companies and organizations worldwide via different pyrolysis systems. Materials used for biochar production include (but are not limited to) woodchips, animal manure and construction wastes1. These differences are expected to alter the biochars&#8217; physical and chemical properties and thus their ability to improve substrates, promote long-term stability and increase sorption capabilities. Additionally, during the pyrolysis process the biochar may become unintentionally contaminated with metals, PAHs and PCBs as a result of contaminated feedstocks or inappropriate pyrolysis conditions. Therefore, before biochar can be applied on a large scale to the environment as a soil amendment, careful characterization of the biochar for contaminants, specific surface area, cation exchange capacity, earthworm avoidance and germination and others suggested by the International Biochar Initiative (IBI) must be conducted. In 2013, the first Standardized Product Definition and Product Testing Guidelines for Biochar, which sets standards for biochar physical and chemical characteristics, was published and made publically available.
Research has shown that biochar produced at a commercial greenhouse in Odessa, ON, Canada has the ability to significantly improve plant growth in intensely degraded soils and sorb persistent organic pollutants (POPs) such as PCBs 2, 3. This biochar has been produced from three different feedstocks (i.e. organic matter sources) via a boiler system where the heat generated is used to warm their greenhouse operation during winter months.
This study provides characterization data pertinent to the production of biochar in a biomass boiler, and the use of biochar as a soil amendment. The objective of this study is to thoroughly characterize the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of six biochars according to standards set by the IBI in their Standardized Product Definition and Product Testing Guidelines (Version 1.1) (2013). These characteristics will be linked, where possible, to the performance of each biochar as agricultural amendments and their ability to sorb contaminants.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="2073">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="30">
			<td height="30" style="height:30px;width:343px;">Name of Material/ Equipment</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Company</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">Catalog Number</td>
			<td style="width:1163px;">Comments/Description</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Biochar</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Burt&#39;s Greenhouses</td>
			<td style="width:208px;"></td>
			<td>All six biochars were produced at Burt&#39;s Greenhouses via BlueFlame Boiler system</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="27">
			<td height="27" style="height:27px;width:343px;">NaOAc</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">E124-4</td>
			<td>Dissolving 136.08 g of NaOAC.3H2O in 750mL distilled, deionized&#160; water (DDI water)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Acetic Acid</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">A38-212</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Sodium Hydroxide</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>SS284-1</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Isopropanol</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">A416P4</td>
			<td>80% IPA- 800 mL IPA with 200 mL DDI water.&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="25">
			<td height="25" style="height:25px;width:343px;">NH4Cl</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">A649500</td>
			<td>Dissolving 5.35 g NH4Cl into 1 L DDI water.&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Alumminum Drying Pan</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>08-732-110</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Drying Oven</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">508N0024</td>
			<td>200&#176;C for 2 hours.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Desiccator</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>08-595A</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Balance</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Mettler</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">1113032410</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Saturating Solution</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">06-664-25</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Vortex</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Barnstead/Thermolyne</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">871000536389&#160;&#160;&#160;</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Centrifuge</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">International Equipment Company</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">24372808</td>
			<td>3000 g for 5 mins.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Rinsing Solution</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific (Ricca Chemistry Company)</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">06-664-24</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Conductivity Meter</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">WESCAN</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">88298</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Replacing Solution</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">06-664-24</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">ICP-AES</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Varian</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">EL00053841</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">ASAP 2000 Surface Area Analyser&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Cavlon</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">885</td>
			<td>Degassing at 120&#176;C for a minimum of 2 hours.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Muffle Furnace</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">806N0024</td>
			<td>Heat for 16 hours covering at 420&#176;C.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">pH Meter</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">1230185263</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Sieve</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">2288926</td>
			<td>4.7 mm sieve being at the top.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Sieve Skaker</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Meinzer II</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">0414-02</td>
			<td>Shake for 10 min.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Sodium Sulphate</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">VWR</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">EM-SX0761-5</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Ottawa Sand</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">S23-3</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Soxhlet Apparatus</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific (Pyrex)</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">09-557A</td>
			<td>4&#160;hours at 4&#8211;6&#160;cycles per hour.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">DCBP</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Suprlco Analytical</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">48318&#160;&#160;&#160;</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Dichloromethane</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">40042-40855-U</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">6890 Plus Gas Chromatograph Micro 63 Ni ECD</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Agilent</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">US00034778</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Helium</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">AlphaGaz</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">SPG-NIT1AL50SMART</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Nitrogen</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">AlphaGaz</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">SPG-HEL1AL50SMART</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Mortor and Pestle</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific (CoorsTeh)</td>
			<td>12-948G</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Nitric Acid</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">351288212</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">No. 40 Filter Paper</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific (Whatman)</td>
			<td>09-845A</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Quartz/Nickel weigh boats</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>11-474-210</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">DMA-80</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">ATS Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">5090264</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">98-99% Formic Acid</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">33015-1L</td>
			<td>1L volumetric filled to 750 mL with DDI water add 20 mL formic acid and fill to volume with DDI water.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Sonicator</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Sientific</td>
			<td>15338284</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Rotating Shaker</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">New Brunswick Scientific (Innova 2100)</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">14-278-108</td>
			<td>1 hour at 200 rpm.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">No. 42 Filter Paper</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific (Whatman)</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">09-855A</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">WhirlPacks</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">R55048</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Potassium Dihydrogen Orthophospahte</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">181525</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">2M KCl</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">P282100</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Plastic Vials</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">03-337-20</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Ammonium Chloride</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">PX05115</td>
			<td>Allow to warm up to room temperature</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Colour Reagent</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">361028260</td>
			<td>Allow to warm up to room temperature</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Colorimeter</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">13-642-400</td>
			<td>Turn on to let the lamp warm up and run for 5 minutes.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">ASEAL Auto Analyzer 2</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">SEAL</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">4723A12068</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Liquified Phenol</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">MPX05115</td>
			<td>Alkaline Phenol- Measure 87 mL of liquefied phenol into 1-L volumetric filled 2/3 with DDI water.&#160; Add 34 g NaOH, make up to volume with DDI water.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">NaOH</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">S318-3</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Commercial Bleach</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Retail Store</td>
			<td style="width:208px;"></td>
			<td>Hypochlorite Solution- using 100-mL graduated cylinder measure 31.5 mL of commercial bleach and fill to 100 mL with DDI water.&#160;&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">NaOH Pellets</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">S320-1</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Disodium EDTA</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">E5124</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Sodium Hyprchlorite</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">SS290-1</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Triton (10%)</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">BP151-100</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Sodium Nitroprusside</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">S350-100</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Ammonium Salts</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">A637-10</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Phenoxide</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>AC388611000</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Eisenia Fetida</td>
			<td>The Worm Factory</td>
			<td style="width:208px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Spade</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Retail Store</td>
			<td style="width:208px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Bucket</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Retail Store</td>
			<td style="width:208px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Potting Soil</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Retail Store</td>
			<td style="width:208px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Avoidance Wheel</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Environment Canada</td>
			<td style="width:208px;"></td>
			<td>Constructed by a modified design from Environment Canada&#8217;s Acute Avoidance Test.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Alumminum Foil</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">01-213-100</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Petri Dishes</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">08-757-11</td>
			<td>8.5 cm in diameter.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Pumpkin Seeds</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Ontario Seed Company (OSC)</td>
			<td align="right" style="width:208px;">2055</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Alfalpha Seeds</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Ontario Seed Company (OSC)</td>
			<td align="right" style="width:208px;">6675</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Centrifuge Tubes (30mL)</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">22-038-906</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="25">
			<td height="25" style="height:25px;width:343px;">Beakers (50mL)</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific (Pyrex)</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">02-540G</td>
			<td>Oven dry at 105oC.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Beakers (30mL)</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific (Pyrex)</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">20-540C</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Erlenmeyer Flasks (125mL)</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific (Pyrex)</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">S76106C</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Volumetric Flask (100mL)</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Fisher Scientific (Pyrex)</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">10-211C</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Estuarine Sediment</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">National Insititute of Standards</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">1546A</td>
			<td>Standard Reference Material</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:343px;">Bleach</td>
			<td style="width:359px;">Clorox Ultra (5-10% sodium hypochlorite)</td>
			<td style="width:208px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

physical, chemical and biological characterization of six biochars produced for the remediation of contaminated sites

The physical and chemical properties of biochar vary based on feedstock sources and production conditions, making it possible to engineer biochars with specific functions (e.g. carbon sequestration, soil quality improvements, or contaminant sorption). In 2013, the International Biochar Initiative (IBI) made publically available their Standardized Product Definition and Product Testing Guidelines (Version 1.1) which set standards for physical and chemical characteristics for biochar. Six biochars made from three different feedstocks and at two temperatures were analyzed for characteristics related to their use as a soil amendment. The protocol describes analyses of the feedstocks and biochars and includes: cation exchange capacity (CEC), specific surface area (SSA), organic carbon (OC) and moisture percentage, pH, particle size distribution, and proximate and ultimate analysis. Also described in the protocol are the analyses of the feedstocks and biochars for contaminants including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), metals and mercury as well as nutrients (phosphorous, nitrite and nitrate and ammonium as nitrogen). The protocol also includes the biological testing procedures, earthworm avoidance and germination assays. Based on the quality assurance / quality control (QA/QC) results of blanks, duplicates, standards and reference materials, all methods were determined adequate for use with biochar and feedstock materials. All biochars and feedstocks were well within the criterion set by the IBI and there were little differences among biochars, except in the case of the biochar produced from construction waste materials. This biochar (referred to as Old biochar) was determined to have elevated levels of arsenic, chromium, copper, and lead, and failed the earthworm avoidance and germination assays. Based on these results, Old biochar would not be appropriate for use as a soil amendment for carbon sequestration, substrate quality improvements or remediation.

A summary of all results including a comparison to the criteria set by the IBI 13 can be found in Tables 1 (summary), 2 (New, High, Low, Third Feedstock and High-2 biochars) and 3 (Old biochar). All biochars and feedstocks used in 2012 and 2013 (Table 2) were well within the criterion set by the IBI and there were little differences among biochars. Old biochar (Table 3), the first biochar submitted for testing, was made from u...

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Physical, Chemical and Biological Characterization of Six Biochars Produced for the Remediation of Contaminated Sites

Biochar is a carbon-rich material used as a soil amendment with the ability to sustainably sequester carbon, improve substrate quality and sorb contaminants. This protocol describes the 17 analytical methods used for the characterization of biochar, which is required prior to large scale implementation of these amendments in the environment.

The physical and chemical properties of biochar vary based on feedstock sources and production conditions, making it possible to engineer biochars with ...

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34.9K Views.  Royal Military College of Canada. Biochar is a carbon-rich material used as a soil amendment with the ability to sustainably sequester carbon, improve substrate quality and sorb contaminants. This protocol describes the 17 analytical methods used for the characterization of biochar, which is required prior to large scale implementation of these amendments in the environment.