Research – Water Absorption and Atmospheric Pollution Absorption

(Two key properties of biochar are:

• Low thermal conductivity
• The ability to absorb water up to five times its own weight)
• Determination of the specific surface area of biochar using the BET method based on nitrogen adsorption isotherms at 77K, pore size distribution, and total pore volume.
• Determination of the sorption capacity of biochar for carbon dioxide at 20°C and 150°C, as well as for carbon monoxide at 20°C and 150°C.

GIG Katowice; Energy Efficiency Department; research conducted on July 6, 2017.

The technology is related to an effective method for vertical damp-proofing of foundations, particularly in historical and sacred buildings. The goal of this technology is to provide better protection of foundations from moisture and rising groundwater. When using insulation with the addition of biochar, it turns out that the product, due to its high capillarity, extracts water, drying the foundations.

Mold and Fungus Development
Research by Prof. Wiola Zukiewicz-Sobczak, Biała Podlaska, concerning the mycological properties of biochar, including its resistance to fungi and mold.

Studies conducted at the Białystok University of Technology (2018-2019) explored the application of biochar in repair mortars for use in sacred and historical buildings (doctoral thesis by D. Tokarski).

Research by Collegium Mazovia, led by Dr. Eng. P. Woliński, examined the impact of biochar on concrete properties (highlighting biochar’s significant influence on the aging of concrete).

Studies by the Material, Body, and Environment Lab, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada (Master of Architecture student), investigated the effect of biochar on building material properties such as compressive strength, degradation, porosity, permeability, and its role in heat storage and dispersion (2020).

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Research – Water Absorption and Atmospheric Pollution Absorption

1. The ability to absorb water up to five times its own weight.
2. Determination of the specific surface area of biochar using the BET method based on nitrogen adsorption isotherms at 77K, pore size distribution, and total pore volume.

Numerous studies conducted over more than 12 years in natural science institutes in Poland and worldwide confirm the positive impact of biochar on accelerated seedling growth, enhanced root system development, and increased fruiting of trees.

In Poland, research has been carried out at the Institute of Pomology and Floriculture in Skierniewice, the University of Agriculture in Kraków, the University of Environmental and Life Sciences in Wrocław, as well as institutes in the United States, Canada, Brazil, and other countries. These studies consistently confirm the positive effects of biochar on shortening the reproductive cycle of seedlings, as well as accelerating and increasing the yield of trees and shrubs.

Key properties of biochar, confirmed by long-term research:

• High carbon content (above 65%) enriches poor agricultural soils with the missing life-giving element, carbon (C).
• Porous structure enables the retention and storage of water and natural minerals—1g of biochar can hold 5g of water in its internal structure.
• Excellent base for producing natural fertilizers with a long-lasting effect—plants absorb only the necessary amounts of water and nutrients from the internal reservoir within the pores.
• Using soil substrates with a volumetric biochar content of 15% (7 parts soil, 1 part biochar) results in:
  • Reduced germination time by approximately 7 days,
  • Increased biomass of above-ground parts and fruits by up to 25%,
  • The ability to grow seedlings without the need for additional transplanting.