Efficient utilization of biochar for water remediation and soil amendment - towards a circular economy

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Biochar is a sorbent material and the main solid product available from the thermochemical conversion of biomass. It has uses in a variety of environmental applications including the removal of pollutants from water and soil amendment. The global biochar market is set to reach a value of USD3.3 billion by 2025 based on its annual growth rate of 13% since 2015. Eutrophication in water bodies is a significant environmental problem cause by excess nutrients in water. One common cause of eutrophication is run off ground water contaminated with phosphate and nitrate from the leaching of chemical fertilisers. Biochar can adsorb excess phosphate and nitrate from water leaving a spent biochar which is suitable for use as a slow-release fertiliser - both cleaning water and removing a major pollution source. Currently multiple studies have been carried out in which various chemically activated biochars have been used for removal of phosphate and nitrate from water, then used as a slow-release fertiliser. While current research provides evidence this process could be successful, the research has been carried out at lab scale and predominantly in simple solutions of few different ions. Using experimental methods and computational modelling, this project will assess the performance of currently existing biochar activation methods in real eutrophic water and plant beds at SustainableThinkingScotland site. Following this, the project will aim to create a new novel biochar activation method with improved performance compared to current activation methods currently available in literature. This will allow for a more efficient process capable of being scaled up for real life use.