What is Biochar?

Biochar is a charcoal-like substance produced during “pyrolysis”. This is a process where selected organic materials (biomass) are rapidly heated to high temperatures, around 450°C - 700°C in the absence of oxygen, to produce thermal energy and stabilised biochar.  The thermal energy can be reused to power the pyrolysis process and the biochar utilised as a valuable soil amendment or stockfeed additive, as is the case of Terix Biochar.

One of the greatest environmental benefits of producing biochar is its ability to store large amounts of carbon for many years, which would normally be lost to the atmosphere during burning or natural decomposition of organic materials.

It is important to realise that biochar is quite different physically from charcoal.  Biochar is stable carbon and has a high surface area to mass due to its porous, honeycomb structure created during pyrolysis.

In many cases, biochar is produced from materials that would normally be regarded as residues and “used” materials.  Terix Biochar is made from used, heat-treated wood pallets, forest residues or nutshells.