Charcrete: incorporation of bio-char in concrete for carbon sequestration and improved physical and acoustic properties

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Biomass pyrolysis transforms residual organic materials (agricultural, forestry or municipal) into value-added products such as biooil, biochar and gases. While bio-oil has attracted the attention of researchers and industry as a potential substitute for petroleum feedstocks, recent attention has been expanded to biochar. Biochar is a relatively porous carbon-based material including the mineral content of the original biomass. Its physical characteristics include light weight, excellent insulating properties, adsorption capacity for moisture and pollutants, protection from radiation, as well as carbon sequestration. The proposed research focuses on the exploitation of biochar properties which could make it as an attractive material to incorporate in green building materials. The overall objectives include both qualitative and quantitative characterization of the addition of different proportions of biochar to samples of plaster and of concrete bricks/blocks in terms of (a) mechanical properties and durability, including weight and compressive strength, (b) curing time, (c) moisture retention and control, (d) carbon sequestration potential, (e) acoustic properties including sound absorption and sound transmission loss, (f) thermal conductivity, (g) freeze-thaw weathering, and (h) odors/pollutants adsorption properties.