In an issue of Environmental Science and Technology, scientists of the College Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University, say that charcoal produced by heating wood, grass, cornstalks or other organic matter in the absence of Oxygen produce “biochar” which was used by Amazonian Indians ,centuries ago, to enhance soil fertility and cause depletion in the strength of global warming. Mass production of biochar could capture carbon that otherwise would wind up in the atmosphere as carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas leading to global warming.
The heat drives off gases that can be collected and burned to produce energy. It leaves behind charcoal rich in carbon.
Amazonian Indians mixed a combination of charcoal and organic matter into the soil to improve fertility, a fact that got the scientists interested in studying biochar’s modern potential.
The study involved a “life-cycle analysis” of biochar production, a comprehensive cradle-to-grave look at its potential in fighting global climate change and all the possible consequences of using the material, said the scientists.
Several biochar production systems have the potential for being an economically viable way of sequestering carbon – permanently storing it – while producing renewable energy and enhancing soil fertility.
In India, the Coconut shell steam based activated Carbon does the same. Coconut shells which are often discarded are collected and heated which gives Charcoal. This process is adopted extensively in the peripherals of Pollachi, Kangayam, Dharavaram, This charcoal through a steaming process is made into activated Carbon. Activated Carbon has large users in United States of America, Europe and other countries for gold refining, water purification through water purifiers, automobile industry. There are around 14 factories which are making activated Carbon in India; one unit is in Kerala and the rest in Tamilnadu, 1 in Karnataka. The Coir Pith made from the dust of coir fibre is excellent manure which can increase the fertility of the soil as coir fibre has the natural property to absorb and retain water. Coir Pith is exported to as many as 82 countries, around 90,000 m tones fetching foreign exchange to the tune of Rs 90 Cr during 2008-9 while Coconut charcoal was exported to the order of 17279 tonnes fetching Rs 24.49Cr while activated Carbon accounted for export of 26,000 tonnes in volume and Rs 150 Cr in value. Though these demands have immense intrinsic value due to the fact that they are natural agricultural products do not get any sops while exporting. The Environment Ministry should take absolute steps to promote these products which have natural properties, can be used to produce power, and can act as a catalyst to reduce global warming.

These sectors have a huge working population whose livelihood depends upon the sale of these highly priced products which are available for a pittance.

(The author is Consultant, Coconut Development Board, an Export Promotion Council to develop Coconut exports in Kochi-India)