The Open Thermodynamics Journal

2008, 2 : 106-108
Published online 2008 December 31. DOI: 10.2174/1874396X00802010106
Publisher ID: TOTHERJ-2-106

Combustion of Biomass as a Global Carbon Sink

Rowena Ball
Mathematical Sciences Institute and Research School of Physics and Engineering, Building 27, The Australian National University, Canberra 0200 Australia.

ABSTRACT

This commentary article highlights the important role of black carbon produced from biomass burning in the global carbon cycle. Consideration of the fundamental chemistry and thermokinetics of cellulose thermal decomposition suggests that suppression of biomass burning or biasing burning practices to produce soot-free flames must inevitably transfer more carbon to the atmosphere. A simple order-of-magnitude quantitative analysis indicates that black carbon may be a significant carbon reservoir that persists over geological time scales.

Keywords:

Carbon cycle, carbon sequestration, black carbon.