Chinese Research Team Develops High-Value Biochar from Agricultural Waste

A Chinese research team has developed a breakthrough technology for the efficient, large-scale production of biochar from agricultural and forestry biomass, an achievement formally recognised by a panel of experts. The technology, developed by the Institute of Environment under the Hefei Comprehensive National Science Centre after more than a decade of research, enables the conversion of biomass into high-value biochar through a single-step catalytic carbonisation process, Science and Technology Daily reported on Wednesday. China is a large agricultural country with abundant biomass resources. The aim is to upgrade these resources into high-value applications that can replace fossil fuels while supporting national peak carbon and carbon neutrality targets, said Xing Xianjun, the project leader and deputy director of the Hefei-based institute. The newly developed technology overcomes key obstacles that have long plagued traditional biochar production, such as low yield, poor quality, high energy consumption, and environmental pollution. According to Xing, a single high-pressure carbonisation unit can now produce more than 50,000 tonnes of biochar annually. The technology has already been implemented in several cities, generating significant economic, social, and environmental benefits. Biochar, a carbon-rich material produced by heating biomass in an oxygen-limited environment, has diverse applications with significant economic value. In agriculture, it can be applied to soil to improve crop yields by enhancing nutrient retention and soil structure. The research team has also developed biochar-based functional materials for various applications, including energy storage, environmental adsorption, and catalysis. A project to produce sustainable aviation fuel based on biochar is progressing rapidly in Bozhou City, Anhui Province, Xing added.