The term biochar was originally associated with a specific type of production, known as ‘slow
pyrolysis’. In this type of pyrolysis, oxygen is absent, heating rates are relatively slow, and
peak temperatures relatively low (Section 2.1.3.1). However, the term biochar has since
been extended to products of short duration pyrolysis at higher temperatures known as ‘fast
pyrolysis’ (Section 2.1.3.2) and novel techniques such as microwave conversion.