Non-Agricultural Uses for Biochar

While biochar’s soil uses are well-known, it is increasingly being used in materials like concrete, asphalt, and other industrial mediums, to reduce embodied emissions in these things. Biochar can also be used to remediate contaminated soil and water, helping to revitalize communities and natural landscapes. 

Biochar’s values don’t end at agricultural uses and carbon removal. Biochar is valuable for soil and water remediation, leveraging its high absorbency properties to remove and bind heavy metals, PFAS, and highly persistent contaminants. Building materials like laminates and insulation are being developed with biochar, as are carbon-negative asphalt and concrete. Biochar-based concrete  is also highly useful for capping abandoned oil and gas wells, especially for reducing methane emissions. 

Biochar is also a highly effective and sustainable choice for industrial water filtration, and is being used to process solid waste and waste water treatment.