What differs biochar from charcoal? The simple answer is that biochar is a carbon-rich product obtained from the thermal decomposition of organic material, at the presence of no or only a bit of oxygen. In principle, the production of biochar is comparable to the production of charcoal, one of the oldest and most established processes developed by mankind. While charcoal is made traditionally from wood, biochar can be based on a wide range of biomass and biomass residues. However, a variety of technologies for the production of biochar has been developed in recent years. The technologies are based on pyrolysis, gasification, or hydrothermal carbonization and are ranging from simple units, like heated steel drums to full automated and controlled processes. Therefore, the obtained products have tremendous differences in its properties and resulting qualities. The quality defines the field of application. To obtain the required quality for each application, the right process must be applied. Consequently, it is not enough only to enrich the carbon content by thermal decomposition of organic material. The production of tailor-made biochar for specific high added–value application is much more complex. In addition, side products like liquid biofuels make business cases stronger. If it is done in the right way, biochar production combined with advanced biofuels can be an economic solution to overcome the problems of climate change. “So for the future of mankind, this black matter might give the light at the end of the tunnel.”

生物炭与木炭有何不同？简单的答案是，生物炭是在无氧或只有少量氧存在下，通过有机材料的热分解获得的富碳产品。原则上，生物炭的生产与木炭的生产相当，木炭是人类开发的最古老，最成熟的工艺之一。尽管木炭传统上是由木材制成，但生物炭可以基于多种生物质和生物质残渣。然而，近年来已经开发了用于生产生物炭的多种技术。这些技术基于热解，气化或水热碳化，范围从简单的单元（如加热的钢桶）到全自动和受控的过程。因此，所获得的产品在性能和质量上都存在巨大差异。质量决定了应用领域。为了获得每种应用所需的质量，必须应用正确的过程。因此，仅通过有机材料的热分解来富集碳含量是不够的。为特定的高附加值应用量身定制的生物炭的生产要复杂得多。此外，诸如液态生物燃料之类的副产品也使商业案例更加牢固。如果采取正确的方法，将生物炭与先进的生物燃料相结合可以成为克服气候变化问题的经济解决方案。“因此，对于人类的未来，这种黑色物质可能会在隧道尽头提供照明。” 为了获得每种应用所需的质量，必须应用正确的过程。因此，仅通过有机材料的热分解来富集碳含量是不够的。为特定的高附加值应用量身定制的生物炭的生产要复杂得多。此外，诸如液态生物燃料之类的副产品也使商业案例更加牢固。如果采取正确的方法，将生物炭与先进的生物燃料相结合可以成为克服气候变化问题的经济解决方案。“因此，对于人类的未来，这种黑色物质可能会在隧道尽头提供照明。” 为了获得每种应用所需的质量，必须应用正确的过程。因此，仅通过有机材料的热分解来富集碳含量是不够的。为特定的高附加值应用量身定制的生物炭的生产要复杂得多。此外，诸如液态生物燃料之类的副产品也使商业案例更加牢固。如果采取正确的方法，将生物炭与先进的生物燃料相结合可以成为克服气候变化问题的经济解决方案。“因此，对于人类的未来，这种黑色物质可能会在隧道尽头提供照明。” 为特定的高附加值应用量身定制的生物炭的生产要复杂得多。此外，诸如液态生物燃料之类的副产品也使商业案例更加牢固。如果采取正确的方法，将生物炭与先进的生物燃料相结合可以成为克服气候变化问题的经济解决方案。“因此，对于人类的未来，这种黑色物质可能会在隧道尽头提供照明。” 为特定的高附加值应用量身定制的生物炭的生产要复杂得多。此外，诸如液态生物燃料之类的副产品也使商业案例更加牢固。如果采取正确的方法，将生物炭与先进的生物燃料相结合可以成为克服气候变化问题的经济解决方案。“因此，对于人类的未来，这种黑色物质可能会在隧道尽头提供照明。”