Research opportunity: assessing charcoal and biochar materials as water filtration media

Charcoal and biochar materials can be produced from renewable biomass feedstocks and agricultural and forestry waste materials by pyrolysis (heating in reduced oxygen conditions). These carbonized materials resemble activated carbon at the molecular scale. Activated carbon has been shown to be very effective for removing pesticides and other harmful organic contaminants from drinking water. Since charcoal and biochar materials are easily produced, inexpensive, and widely available in many countries around the world, their use as water filtration media may prove an effective option for providing safe drinking water to low income, especially rural communities throughout the developing world.

Research activities are currently underway in the environmental engineering department at NCSU to characterize a variety of charcoal and biochar materials at the molecular level and assess their capacity for removing pesticide contaminants of concern in drinking water supplies. We are seeking research assistant(s) to help perform lab experiments to support the design of a prototype water purification system serving a farming community in northern Thailand. For more information, please contact Josh Kearns at josh@aqsolutions.org.