Why Biochar?

Firstly, biochar material is a green amendment because it is waste-derived and carbon-negative (Fig. 2a) (Glaser et al. 2009; Hou 2021c, 2022). The net effect of reducing atmospheric CO2.

Biochar production is a sustainable solution which converts biomass waste into an effective and efficient water filtration media.

Biochar can be used alone or mixed with other components to form an enhanced media.

Biochar is a technologically sophisticated, versatile and reliable filter media that is available in consistent high quality at low costs.

Biochar can both sequester carbon in soil and reduce greenhouse gases when the energy produced during biochar production displaces energy formerly produced using fossil fuels.

What is Biochar?

Biochar derived from variety of organic materials, that have been heated to high temperatures at low oxygen levels in a process known as pyrolysis.

Biochar, also known as high carbon fly ash, is a fine-grained, highly porous charcoal-like material, rich in carbon and extremely resistant to decomposition.

Its porous structure with extraordinary amount of surface area making it a highly adsorbent material.

Biochar surface has a variable charge which increases cation exchange capacity (surface sorption capacity).

“Biochar is a solid material obtained from the carbonization or thermochemical conversion of biomass in an oxygen-limited environment.

In more technical terms, biochar is produced by thermal decomposition of organic material (biomass such as wood, manure or leaves) under limited supply of oxygen (O2), and at relatively low temperatures (<700°C). This process mirrors the production of charcoal, which is perhaps the most ancient industrial technology developed by humankind. Biochar can be distinguished from charcoal — used mainly as a fuel — in that a primary application is use as a soil amendment with the intention to improve soil functions and to reduce emissions from biomass that would otherwise naturally degrade to greenhouse gases.”

The International Biochar Initiative (IBI)

A short Video on Answering Biochar Questions.

What is StormwaterBIOCHAR™?

It's more than just a company name. StormwaterBIOCHAR™ is a very specific biochar that we use in all our blends for heavy metal and other pollutant removal. StormwaterBIOCHAR™ has been tested and proven with real stormwater at various industrial sites throughout the United States over the last fifteen plus years. We take raw biochar and process it to make it ready for stormwater treatment.

IBI defines a Class One Biochar as a biochar consisting of anything greater than 60% Organic Carbon. StormwaterBIOCHAR™ has always had greater than 85% organic carbon Plus it meets the other requirements to make it a Class One Biochar.

Metal removal by biochar is highly variable, depending on a number of factors, including the ionic radius of the metal, temperature at which biochar is produced, and pH. That is the difference between biochar and StormwaterBIOCHAR™. The biochar we use is tested and proven for metal removal.

StormwaterBIOCHAR™ is a natural filter media that has been in continuous use since 2009 and sold since 2010. It's reliable, tested, affordable and most important it works!

StormwaterBIOCHAR™ biochar has a very green story. The byproduct of making lumber is burned to make energy (Reduce). The carbon is pulled from the ashes of making the energy. We then wash the biochar, utilizing the large particles to create our stormwater filter medias (Reduce). The wash water with super fines is used in the making of better compost and our soil blends (Reuse). After using the biochar filter media for removal of heavy metals, it can then be used to put carbon back into the soil (Recycle) to help plants grow and enrich the soil.