Biochar in India

Grey Water Treatment

This project explores the use of biochar produced from low cost, community-scale kilns for greywater treatment. Greywater, which represents the largest fraction of household wastewater, is often discharged untreated. Addressing this challenge requires treatment strategies that are not only technically effective but also affordable and socially relevant.

The project evaluates the performance of locally produced biochar, derived from small-scale pyrolysis units, in removing chemical oxygen demand (COD) from synthetic greywater through batch adsorption experiments. We assess how variations in feedstock and structural properties influence treatment efficiency. A comparative analysis with an industrially manufactured biochar provides a benchmark, enabling an assessment of whether community-based production can deliver results that are comparable to, or even exceed, those of commercial products.

The latest experimental work was carried out by my students Akash Nagaraja (MSc Sustainable Chemical Engineering 2024-2025) and Nouran Agag (M.Eng Chemical Engineering 2024-2025) in co-ordination with the NGO, Gram Vikas. Results from the project will help in exploring scaled up operations of community-based grey water management using biochar in India.

RECLAIM

RECLAIM explores the use of Biochar for ecological restoration and remediation of active and closed mines in India. In December, 2023, the research team visited a bauxite mine managed by the Odisha Mining Corporation to discuss and scope the mining land reclamation strategies using biochar.