Hugh McLaughlin, PhD, PE, Alterna Biocarbon Inc.
![](http://terrapreta.bioenergylists.org/files/images/fig3-How to make high and low adsorption biochars for small research studies.story view 400px.jpg)
As the world of biochar expands, the need for definitive research to answer core questions grows. One such question is “What is the role of adsorption and when does it make a pivotal difference in growing situations?” Answering those questions has been hampered by the historical absence of adsorption as a monitored property in soils and soil components (as compared to CEC) and the lack of a reliable method to create low and high adsorption biochars. While there is little that can be done about the former situation, the later may have a fairly facile solution, which will be presented here.