Production and Legislation of Biochar

*Applications of Biochar for Environmental Safety*

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2020;**710**:136203

2019;**373**:902-922

**8**

**Chapter 2**

**Abstract**

Legislation

the large scale applications.

**1. Introduction**

**11**

pyrolysis, soil amendment, waste management

A Mini Review of Biochar

*Nor Adilla Rashidi and Suzana Yusup*

Related Standardization and

Synthesis, Characterization, and

The abundance of biomass in Malaysia creates an avenue for growth of bio-economic sector through the research and development (R&D) activities on the biochar production. Biochar that is described as a carbonaceous material derived from the thermochemical process at temperature of usually lower than 700°C is promising due to its applicability in wider range of applications, such as in soil amendment (fertilizer) and as a low-cost adsorbent for the pollution remediation, apart from minimizing the solid waste disposal problems. Therefore, this chapter discusses the current trends on various production techniques of biochar from both the lignocellulosic (plantation based waste materials) and non-lignocellulosic sources, as well as the physiochemical characteristics of the resulting biochar. In addition, overview of the biochar industry in Malaysia is presented in this chapter. Lastly, recap of standardization and legislation particularly related to the biochar utilization as a soil amendment agent is included to grasp readers' attention prior to

**Keywords:** biochar, biomass, environmental standardization and legislation,

biochar remains ill-defined. Thus, the International Biochar Initiative (IBI) standardized the biochar "as a solid material obtained from the thermochemical conversion of biomass in O2-limited environments." While the production route of biochar and charcoal is similar where both materials are derived from the carbonaceous feedstock through the pyrolysis process [6], but the distinct features that can distinguish these two materials lies in their starting material and end application. Biochar that contains high porosity, high nutrient content, and waterstorage-capability is applied for soil amelioration or an adsorbent, whereas charcoal

that is usually derived from the petroleum-based feedstock is used for heat

Biochar, which is a subset of carbon-rich and black powder, is generally defined as a porous solid that is produced from biomass via pyrolysis process and in the absence of oxygen (O2) [1]. Nevertheless, based on literatures, there are various definitions of the biochar [2–4]; accordingly, Sohi et al. [5] reported that the term of
