Is there any interest in the subject of Bio Char and the process of Pyrolysis? I have been enamoured with the subject since watching a documentary years ago about Terra Preta which is a man made soil found in the Amazon Basin.
I have made many TLUD (top lit updraft) stoves for the purpose of producing Bio Char for use in my composting toilet as a cover material as well as just another way to process biomass beside composting alone. The stoves, when working properly, smokelessly burn all the combustible gases from the material leaving only carbon. The carbon can be left to burn as well or the fire can be extinguished and the charcoal saved.
Turning biomass into charcoal is a way that carbon can be sequestered in the soil indefinitely. Now I'm not claiming that CO2 is a problem. One can be into carbon sequestration without being a global warming zealot. But Bio Char in the soil is apparently a good thing in that it serves as a great home for a host of beneficial bacteria and the like as well as holding moisture and nutrients.
I would like to compare experiences with others if there is any interest. I also have some video of my stoves in use but don't know how to upload them here yet.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biochar
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyrolysis
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terra_preta