Reviewed by Lexie CornerNov 27 2024
Researchers at Penn State are leading an international effort to examine biochar's "dark side," specifically the risk posed by organic contaminant residues in biorefinery char products, with funding from a three-year, $799,883 grant awarded by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
Biochar comprises organic waste material and is made by pyrolysis, a process that involves heating the organic material in a limited oxygen environment. Image Credit: Pennsylvania State University.
Charcoal-like biochar, recognized for its ability to sequester carbon, mitigate emissions, and prevent soil degradation and contamination, has the potential to address numerous environmental issues—provided its production becomes more eco-friendly.
Biochar is derived from organic waste through pyrolysis, a process that heats the material in an oxygen-restricted environment. Although biochar offers considerable promise for soil enhancement and carbon capture, its production process may generate hazardous substances if not carefully designed and managed.
While the title of our research project — ‘The Dark Side of Biochar: Addressing the Threat of Organic Contaminant Residues in Biorefinery Char Products’ — may sound ominous, our main goal is to help make sure that problems don’t crop up in the making of biochar. That way, we can help ensure that biochar lives up to its potential as a positive and beneficial bio-based product.
Daniel Ciolkosz, Associate Research Professor, Agricultural and Biological Engineering, College of Agricultural Sciences, Pennsylvania State University
According to Ciolkosz, the research aims to develop and evaluate design and optimization strategies for biorefineries to produce biochar free from harmful organic compounds, such as benzene, hexane, and toluene. The study investigates the formation and deposition of these contaminants in biochar and assesses treatment methods to eliminate them.
If process conditions aren’t right and these toxic compounds are produced, workers could be exposed to harmful conditions, and the biochar could end up being a source of contamination, reducing its applicability and acceptability for widespread use. This project will characterize the emission of harmful organic compounds from biomass during conversion to biochar in a biorefinery and its redeposition on the biochar.
Daniel Ciolkosz, Associate Research Professor, Agricultural and Biological Engineering, College of Agricultural Sciences, Pennsylvania State University
The study will use biomass feedstocks such as crop and forestry residues, algae, and municipal organic waste from various sources in experiments designed to evaluate emissions and contaminant levels associated with biochar production.
Researchers will also examine engineered treatment methods for contaminant removal and potential reuse. Using these findings, they will assess the overall performance of biorefineries and propose strategies for optimizing biorefinery designs that incorporate biochar as part of their product portfolio.
The research team includes Juliana Vasco-Correa, assistant professor of agricultural and biological engineering at Penn State; Andrzej Białowiec from Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Poland; David DeVallance from the Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania; and Thomas Causer of Advanced Torrefaction Systems.