Penn state biochar study aims to ensure safety

By Blake Jackson

Biochar, a charcoal-like substance produced from organic waste, holds immense potential for mitigating climate change and improving soil health. However, its production process can inadvertently generate harmful organic compounds if not carefully controlled.

A team of researchers led by Penn State, with support from a $799,883 USDA grant, is working to address this issue. Their goal is to uncover and eliminate the potential risks associated with biochar production, ensuring its safe and sustainable use.

"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," explained Daniel Ciolkosz, an associate research professor at Penn State. "That way, we can help ensure that biochar lives up to its potential as a positive and beneficial bio-based product.”

Ciolkosz and his team are investigating the formation and deposition of harmful compounds such as benzene, hexane, and toluene during biochar production. They are also exploring various treatment processes to remove these contaminants and render the biochar safe for use.

“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,” said Ciolkosz. “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.”

The research team is working with a variety of biomass feedstocks, including crop residues, forestry waste, algae, and municipal organic waste. They are analyzing the emissions and contaminant levels associated with different biochar production methods and evaluating the effectiveness of various treatment processes.

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