In Honor of Nobel Laureate Dr. Aaron Ciechanover
The process of pyrolysis to produce biochar also produces pyrolysis gasses that need to be delt with. Burning the gasses is one option. A burner which can burn these gasses at near 100% efficiency without needing electronics, fans, or electrical power, but is totally natural draft would be of benefit in many situations.
This paper describes such a burner, highly efficient, natural draft, inexpensive, and easy to use.
This burning technique was designed over 10 years of experiments. Most of these experiments could be defined as back yard experimenting. Promising designs were tested under the testing hood at Aprovecho Woodstove Research Center in Cottage Grove, Oregon. One early design was tested at Lawrence Berkley National Labs Burn Lab on the UC Berkley campus about 7 years ago. It tested at nearly 100% efficiency using a TLUD type pyrolysis gas generator. Newer models are more capable, reaching very high-power levels with very high burning efficiency. Placing such a burner atop a biochar kiln would efficiently burn the produced pyrolysis gas, without expensive sensors, electronics, or power supplies.
The process uses the Venturi effect and so could be classified as a Venturi mixer/burner. It uses the Venturi effect to lower the pressure of the gas, increasing the pressure gradient with the atmospheric air, and so increasing the force pushing the air into the gas. It also increases the surface area between the air and gas and reduces the depth the air must penetrate into the gas, both of which speed mixing and burning. It automatically adjusts the secondary air to match the amount of pyrolysis gas, keeping the burn efficient at all power levels.
Using burners of this type on biochar kilns could reduce polluting combustion emissions where processing the gas into useful products is not possible.
No published works. The staff at Aprovecho WSRC are familiar with me. I have presented at ETHOS wood stove conference on this topic, and displayed the burners there, so they are familiar with me.
As climate disruptions intensify through extreme heat, flooding, wildfires, and water insecurity, conventional building strategies that focus only on operational energy use or carbon reduction are no longer sufficient. These approaches often overlook the broader challenges of ecological instability and occupant well-being. There is an urgent need for integrated design frameworks that enhance both human health and environmental resilience. This paper explores the role of biochar, a carbon-rich, porous material produced by pyrolyzing biomass, as a core enabler of Positive Building®. This regenerative design approach focuses on meeting five essential human needs: fresh air, clean water, renewable energy, local food, and mental well-being.
Historically, biochar has been used mainly as a soil additive in agriculture. However, emerging research suggests that its physical and chemical properties including lightweight structure, high porosity, long-term carbon stability, and moisture regulation, make it highly suitable for use in buildings and urban systems. Through an extensive review of scientific literature, critical analysis, informed judgment, and selected case studies, this paper evaluates how biochar can be integrated across architectural, infrastructural, and ecological systems to support Positive Building® practices. The goal is to demonstrate how biochar can strengthen climate resilience, provide environmental and occupant co-benefits, and contribute to a circular, regenerative economy.
This study is based on a comprehensive literature review and analysis of material science findings. Key applications considered include biochar-enhanced plasters and concrete, stormwater-absorbing green infrastructure, vertical aquaponics media, air filtration substrates, and water purification systems. Performance metrics such as thermal regulation, humidity buffering, volatile organic compound (VOC) removal, stormwater retention, and long-term carbon sequestration are drawn from peer-reviewed research conducted across different climate zones. Comparative life-cycle assessments from published sources are used to examine the environmental impact of biochar-based materials compared to conventional alternatives.
Key findings from the literature show that biochar-integrated solutions can offer substantial performance and ecological advantages:
In addition to these technical benefits, biochar also contributes to climate adaptation strategies. In wildfire-prone regions, biochar improves soil moisture retention and reduces surface flammability, making it a useful component of defensible green zones. It also enables decentralized, low-energy water purification in areas with unreliable municipal services. These attributes position biochar as a uniquely adaptable material for buildings that must respond to compound climate threats.
Beyond its environmental and performance merits, biochar presents a compelling business opportunity. Its integration into Positive Building® systems supports a circular economy model that creates local economic value. Biochar can be produced from agricultural and forestry residues through small-scale pyrolysis, offering pathways for rural employment, clean technology development, and waste-to-resource innovation. Construction and landscape industries can incorporate biochar into their supply chains, while developers and building owners benefit from lower operating costs, enhanced building performance, and access to verified carbon credits. Biochar’s use in regenerative design also supports certification goals under Positive Building®, WELL, and LEED frameworks, making it attractive for high-performance and market-differentiated projects.
In conclusion, biochar is not merely a waste product or agricultural input. It is a regenerative material with transformative potential for the built environment. When applied through the Positive Building® framework, biochar becomes part of a systems-based approach that addresses climate mitigation, adaptation, resource conservation, and human well-being. This paper advocates for the wider adoption of biochar in building standards, resilience policy, and incentive programs to unlock its full potential as a catalyst for sustainable and regenerative urban development.
References:Biochar has increasingly gained attention as a transformative tool in the global effort to mitigate climate change, offering a scientifically grounded and scalable approach to carbon dioxide removal and long-term carbon sequestration. While much of the discourse around biochar has focused on its agricultural applications and short-term carbon benefits, this presentation shifts the lens to a deeper and more enduring dimension: the geological framework that underpins biochar’s capacity for permanent carbon storage. We explore how insights from the geological sciences, particularly organic petrology and geochemistry, have opened new frontiers in understanding the mechanisms that govern biochar stability, carbonization, and persistence in natural and engineered systems.
This work draws on pioneering studies that apply geological methodologies to assess the physical and chemical transformation of biomass into stable carbon forms. Through detailed analysis of maceral compositions, reflectance properties, and thermochemical behavior, we demonstrate how geological indicators, such as the inertinite benchmark, provide a robust standard for evaluating biochar permanence. Furthermore, we introduce advanced thermal oxidation and kinetic models that quantify the resistance of biochar to degradation over centennial and millennial timescales, reinforcing its credibility as a long-lived carbon sink.
By integrating these geological principles with cutting-edge analytical techniques, we offer a new paradigm for classifying, certifying, and ultimately crediting biochar in voluntary and compliance-based carbon markets. This presentation underscores the indispensable role of geoscience in elevating biochar from a promising soil amendment to a rigorously validated climate solution. In doing so, it reinforces the view that geology is not only relevant but foundational to establishing biochar as a cornerstone of durable and transparent climate strategies.
