Carbon Materials Definition

Biochar:

Biochar is commonly defined as charred organic matter, produced with the intent to deliberately apply to soils to sequester carbon and improve soil properties (Lehmann and Joseph, 2009).

Biochar is generated from organic matter (mainly from waste), is treated at temperatures between 300~600°C via pyrolysis (carbonization), when higher temperatures are applied (800-1100°C) activation occurs. 

Biochar or charcoal?

The only difference between biochar and charcoal is in its utilitarian intention; charcoal is produced for other reasons (e.g. heating, barbecue, etc.) than biochar.

Carbon cycle:

Carbon-based molecules are crucial for life on earth, because it is the main component of biological compounds. Carbon is also a major component of many minerals. Carbon also exists in various forms in the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is partly responsible for the greenhouse effect and is the most important human-contributed greenhouse gas.

This diagram of the fast carbon cycle shows the movement of carbon between land, atmosphere, and oceans in billions of tons of carbon per year. Yellow numbers are natural fluxes, red are human contributions in billions of tons of carbon per year. White numbers indicate stored carbon.

Carbon materials definition

Activated carbon: 

(Material) charcoal for application to soil (noun). Charcoal produced to optimize its reactive surface area (e.g. by using steam during pyrolysis).

Anthrosol: 

(count noun) A soil that has been modified profoundly through human activities, such as addition of organic materials or household wastes, irrigation and cultivation. 

Biochar:

(Concept) “charcoal (biomass that has been pyrolysed in a zero or low oxygen environment) for which, owing to its inherent properties, scientific consensus exists that application to soil at a specific site is expected to sustainably sequester carbon and concurrently improve soil functions (under current and future management), while avoiding short- and long-term detrimental effects to the wider environment as well as human and animal health."

Black carbon:
(noun) All C-rich residues from fire or heat (including from coal, gas or petrol)

Black Earth:

(mass noun) Term synonymous with Chernozem used (e.g. in Australia) to describe self-mulching black clays

Char: 
(mass noun) 1. Synonym of ‘charcoal’; 2. charred organic matter as a result of wildfire  (verb) synonym of the term ‘pyrolyze’

Charcoal: 

(mass noun) charred organic matter 

Chernozem: 

(count noun) A black soil rich in organic matter; from the Russian ‘chernij’ meaning ‘black’ and ‘zemlja’ meaning ‘earth’ or ‘land’. 

Coal: 

(mass noun) Combustible black or dark brown rock consisting chiefly of carbonized plant matter, found mainly in underground seams and used as fuel. 

Organic carbon: 

(noun) biology C that was originally part of an organism; (chemistry) C that is bound to at least one hydrogen (H) atom. 

Terra Preta: 

(noun) Colloquial term for a kind of Anthrosol where charcoal (or biochar) has been applied to soil along with many other materials, including pottery shards, turtle shells, animal and fish bones, etc. Originally found in Brazil. From the Portuguese ‘terra’ meaning ‘earth’ and ‘preta’ meaning ‘black.  (Verheijen, F.G.A et al, 2010).