Controls on the density and porosity of biochar: Catherine Brewer, Rice University Engineering biochar through production conditions or for specific applications requires understanding of biochar properties. This session explores trends in biochar properties related to production conditions and analytical methods used to measure biochar properties. Characterization of biochars from different thermo-chemical processing of biogenic waste: Sabrina Eichenauer, University of Applied Sciences THM Coalification of biomass opens up new strategies in regional material flow management. It homogenizes organic wastes or residues of different origin into a uniform solid product composed of mostly char and ash. Different methods for thermo-chemical conversion are available. Wet biomass favors Hydrothermal Carbonization (HTC) in water under high pressure and temperature around T = 200°C. Dry organic residues are more appropriate for pyrolysis or gasification systems working in a temperature range of T = 300°C to 800°C. This presentation will discuss chars produced from biomass using HTC or dry pyrolysis in form of Low Temperature Conversion (LTC) focusing on the chemical nature of carbonaceous materials produced depending on conversion technique and starting material. The overall results of the comparative analyses show that thermo-chemically treated biomass can lead to products with different characteristics and thus to different kinds of application according to the type of biochar. Effect of Wood & Cardboard Biochars on Plasticity, Shrinkage & Moisture Retention of Non-Hydric Spodosols: Jeff Licht Investigators conducted a four part study to examine the effect of biochar amendment on plasticity, shrinkage, volumetric soil moisture and adsorption. These were conducted in laboratory and field tests involving clay soils in Massachusetts using chars derived from wood and cardboard and where pyrolyzed using TLUDs. Chars were found to increase soil moisture and adsorption. Cardboard based char was found to produce results matching or surpassing those of the wood char. Implications of this study will be discussed.