Environmental remediation
High Surface Area, Cation exchange capacity and Porosity
Biochar has several physicochemical characteristics that contribute to its ability to sequester heavy metals and other contaminants in soil. Its large surface area, negative surface charge, and pore structure facilitate the adsorption of trace metals and other contaminants in agricultural soils. A cubic centimeter of biochar has roughly the same surface area as a football field or about 400 square meters/gram. Contaminants such as heavy metals exist as positively charged ions when dissolved in water. The positively charged ions are known as cations. Biochar is negatively charged and can attract and hold on to cations (positively charged ions) preventing them from leaching into soil and groundwater.
agricultural run-off and non-point source pollution
Agricultural runoff is the surface runoff from farmland from irrigation and rainfall. Agricultural runoff contains a complex mix of pollutants including nitrates, ammonium, phosphorus compounds, heavy metals, and persistent organic pollutants. Biochar can be deployed at feedlots, slurry ponds, in animal bedding and storm traps to minimize the impacts of farm based and urban runoff that can impact groundwater, wells and waterways.
