Engineered Biochar for Environmental Sustainability

Trash to Treasure

 

Biochar for Water Treatment & Environmental Remediation

Objective

Biochar, also known as “agrichar” or “biomass-derived black carbon”, is a charcoal produced from carbon-rich material. Currently, we are conducting research to develop new methods to produce and activate various types of biochar. These biochar will be engineered to enhance and specify their affinities with various contaminants in water (as alternative low-cost adsorbents). The ultimate goal of this project is to develop new cost-effective water treatment technologies with engineered biochar.

Approaches

 

 

Selected Publications

• Kasozi G. N., A. R. Zimmerman, P. Nkedi-Kizza, and B. Gao. 2010. Catechol and humic acid sorption onto a range of laboratory-produced black carbons (biochars), Environmental Science & Technology, 44, 6189–6195, doi: 10.1021/es1014423
• Cao, X.; L. Ma; B. Gao; W. Harris. 2009. Biochar Derived from Dairy Manure Effectively Sorbs Both Heavy Metals and Organic Contaminants.Environmental Science & Technology, 43, 3285–3291, doi: 10.1021/es803092k.

Collaborators

Drs. Xinde Cao (SJTU), Pratap Pullammanappallil (UF), Andy Zimmerman (UF), and Liuyan Yang (NJU).

• Teaching
  • Nanotechnology in Water Research
• Research
  • Fine Particles
  • Biochar Technology
  • Environmental Nanotechnology
  • Other Water and Environmental Research
• Publications
  • Journal Publications
  • Book Chapters
  • Conference Abstracts