Biochar, also known as black carbon or activated carbon, is more porous than regular charcoal and has several fantastic properties, including improving soil health, raising soil pH, remediating polluted soils, sequestering carbon, lowering greenhouse gas emissions, and improving soil moisture.
In our project on Biochar, you can find all the information about making Biochar and its numerous benefits. One of the first experiments we conducted was with a 200L oil barrel. We achieved excellent results with this, but it was quite time-consuming.
For this reason, we explored other possibilities. One of these possibilities was making a so-called Moxham burner. A Moxham is generally a very large barrel used to make Biochar. The advantage of this method is that a lot of material can be added simultaneously, which significantly speeds up the process. Otherwise, all principles remain the same: the fire is lit from the top, no oxygen is allowed in from the bottom or sides, and all oxygen is cut off at the end to ensure that the biochar opens up and becomes porous.
We made the Moxham from three steel barrels. We opened them up and connected them with steel wire. The steel wire ensures that the gaps between the walls are closed. Unlike the previously made barrel, this one is open at the bottom, making it easier to remove the Moxham and collect the Biochar. Therefore, the bottom of the Moxham must be well sealed to prevent oxygen intake. We did this by slightly burying it and smearing wet clay around the edges. We also applied clay to the seams of the barrels for extra sealing.
We are very enthusiastic about this method. It works quickly and produces large amounts of Biochar in one session. It is a very controlled way of making fire without smoke development (and thus significantly less CO2 emission). Make sure to have plenty of water on hand, not only for extinguishing but also for any unforeseen issues.
Read more about the benefits in our Biochar project.
