Breakthrough could mean new future for toxic waste
- Eric H
- Sep 5
- 2 min read
Updated: Oct 4
Today, biomass is a major contributor to renewable energy worldwide, accounting for roughly 55% of all renewable energy generated globally. Though it has its benefits, it also generates a thick liquid called bio-tar. This tar clogs pipes, poses environmental risks if released into the atmosphere, and damages equipment.
Recently, scientists at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences discovered a way to convert this tar into a substance called bio-carbon. Similar to charcoal, this material has a wide range of applications today including water purification and greener energy. To make this conversion, the scientists utilizes naturally-occuring reactions within the bio-tar that promote polymerization. Oxygen-rich compounds such as carbonyls (a functional group in chemistry that consists of a carbon atom double-bonded to an oxygen atom) and furans (C4H4O) contribute to this process, where smaller molecules link together to create bigger ones, resulting in more stable carbon structures. This process can be carefully controlled by scientists to produce bio-carbon with specific properties.
There is an important distinction between bio-char and bio-carbon -- bio-carbon is essentially an upgraded version, with a higher carbon content, lower ash content, and special features that enable it to be used in more advanced, specific scenarios. In addition to the applications of bio-carbon mentioned above, it could also contribute to production of supercapacitors (which are essentially batteries that store energy physically instead of chemically) and general catalysts for a wide range of industrial applications. A specific benefit is that replacing coal with bio-carbon could remove hundreds of millions of tons of anthropogenic carbon dioxide from the atmosphere annually. It could also contribute economically, benefiting biomass processing plants.
Though some obstacles remain, such as controlling the polymerization process as bio-tar is chemically complex, the scientists at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences are hopeful that this new way of producing bio-carbon could mean the removal of a significant challenge in the biofuel industry. As scientist Yuxuan Sun said, "With further research, this approach could significantly improve the efficiency of biomass energy systems while providing new tools for environmental protection and clean technology."
Comments