CAREER: An Integrated Research and Education Program to Improve Environmental Sustainability with Biochar Technology

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Biochar, also known as "biomass-derived black carbon", is a charcoal produced by thecombustion of biomass in an oxygen-limited environment (pyrolysis). Recent technologicaladvances make it possible to envision the development of an innovative environmentalsustainability strategy to convert carbon-rich agricultural residues (e.g. sugarcane bagasses,sugar beet residues, peanut hull, and animal waste) into engineered biochars. Thissustainability strategy can produce multiple societal and environmental benefits: sustainablemanagement of agricultural resources, water conservation and reclamation, sustainable soilproductivity, carbon neutral energy production, and carbon sequestration. The overall objectiveof this project is to build an integrated research and education program focusing on exploringthe environmental and societal benefits of using carbon-rich agricultural residues as feed stocksfor engineered biochars. The specific research objectives are to: 1) Create different types of engineered biochars(i.e., untreated biochar, biologically activated biochar, and surface-modified biochar) fromrepresentative agricultural residues; 2) Determine fundamental physicochemical properties ofthe engineered biochars; and 3) Unveil mechanisms governing the sorption of contaminants(i.e., nutrients, pharmaceuticals, and heavy metals) to the engineered biochars.The specific educational objectives are to: 1) develop a new course on the impact ofbiochar on environmental sustainability; 2) promote interest and participation of students inenvironmental sustainability through early exposure; and 3) educate the greater communityabout the environmental and societal benefits of the proposed activities.