Industrial Use in the building sector
In the modern world, the industrial benefits multiply adsorber in functional clothing, insulation in the building industry, as carbon electrodes in supercapacitors for energy storage, food packaging, slurry treatment, air cleaning, silage agent, or feed supplement.
- Building Insulation: Biochar can be applied at thicknesses of up to 20 cm as a substitute for Styrofoam insulation. Houses insulated turn into carbon sinks, creating a healthier indoor environment. In addition, if such a house is demolished later, the biochar mud or biochar-lime plaster can be recycled as a valuable compost additive.
- Air decontamination,
- Decontamination of earth foundations,
- Humidity regulation,
- Protection against electromagnetic radiation (“electrosmog”)
Two of biochar’s properties are its extremely low thermal conductivity and ability to absorb water up to 6 times its weight. These properties mean that biochar is the right material for insulating buildings and regulating humidity. In combination with clay, but also with lime and cement mortar, biochar creates indoor plasters with excellent insulation and breathing properties, able to maintain humidity levels in a room at 45–70% in both summer and winter. This, in turn, prevents not just dry air, which can lead to respiratory disorders and allergies, but also dampness on the walls, which can lead to mold growth. Such biochar-mud plaster adsorbs and toxins, a property not just benefits smokers but also improves working environment in libraries, schools, warehouses, factories, and agricultural buildings.
Biochar is an efficient absorber of electromagnetic radiation, meaning that biochar-mud plaster can prevent “electrosmog.”
Decontamination
- Soil additive for soil remediation – used on former mine works, military bases, and landfill sites.
- Soil substrates – Highly adsorbing, plant-able soil substrates for cleaning wastewater; urban wastewater contaminated by heavy metals.
- A barrier preventing pesticides from getting into surface water – berms around fields and ponds can be equipped with 30-50 cm deep barriers made of biochar for filtering out pesticides.
- Treating Pond and lake water – biochar is good for adsorbing pesticides and fertilizers and improving water aeration.
Biogas production
Initial tests show that, adding biochar to a fermenter’s biomass (especially heterogeneous biomasses), the methane and hydrogen yield is increased, decreasing CO2, ammonia emissions, nutrients are better stored, and emissions prevented.
The treatment of wastewater
- Active carbon filter,
- Pre-rinsing additive,
- Soil substrate for organic plant beds,
- Composting toilets
The treatment of drinking water
- Micro-filters,
- Macro-filters in developing countries
Other industrial uses
- Exhaust filters (Controlling emissions, Room air filters)
- Industrial materials (Carbon fibers, Plastics)
- Electronics (Semiconductors, Batteries)
- Metallurgy (Metal reduction)
- Cosmetics (Soaps, Skin-cream, Therapeutic bath additives)
- Paints and coloring (Food colorants, Industrial paints)
- Energy production (Pellets, Substitute for lignite)
Medicines
(Detoxification, Carrier for active pharmaceutical ingredients, Cataplasm for insect bites, abscesses, eczema…)
There are several hundred other medical uses proven in its efficiency for many centuries. Somewhat forgotten during the last 40 years, more research and doctors rediscover its efficiency to treat a whole range of symptoms.
Textiles
(Fabric additive for functional underwear, Thermal insulation for functional clothing, Deodorant for shoe soles)
In Japan and China bamboo-based biochar are already being woven into textiles to gain better thermal and breathing properties and to reduce the development of odors through sweat. The same aim is pursued through the inclusion of biochar in shoe soles and socks.
Wellness
(Filling for mattresses, Filling for pillows)
Biochar adsorbs perspiration and odors, shields against electromagnetic radiation (electrosmog), and removes negative ions from the skin. Moreover, it acts as a thermal insulator reflecting heat, thereby enabling comfortable sleep without any heat build-up in summer. In Japan, pillows have been filled with biochar for a long time. This is supposed to prevent insomnia and neck tension.
Shield against electromagnetic radiation
Biochar can be used in microwave ovens, television sets, power supplies, computers, power sockets, etc., to shield against electromagnetic radiation. This property can also be used in functional clothing as protection for parts of the body particularly sensitive to radiation.
Food Conservation
Put a small bowl of biochar into the fridge (or small linen bags with biochar) and it will not only absorb bad odours but also Ethylene which will retard the post ripening of fruits and vegetables prolonging thus their conservation time. As the biochar takes-up humidity, the risk of mould is diminished. In food packaging the conservation time can be increased through the addition of biochar either in the packaging material or as an additive in small tea bags. For the long-term storage of potatoes, carrots, cabbage, apples, and other winter vegetables and fruits, digging them into biochar can increase storage time for several months.
Thank you for following our series on Biochar and its numerous uses