Program Overview
Understanding the characteristics, production, and application of fit-for-purpose biocarbon products to develop sustainable solutions for environmental challenges and industrial needs.
Download: See our Engineered Biocarbon and Biochar Capabilities overview here.
Recent Research
- Biocarbon for roadside drainage systems research is funded by the Minnesota Dept. of Transportation to mitigate polluted stormwater runoff.
- Demonstration of biochar for carbon sequestration in the built environment, such as parks and other city infrastructure, was funded by the University of Minnesota and the City of Minneapolis.
- Stacking the environmental and economic benefits of engineered biocarbon to stabilize coal combustion sludge for safe, permanent storage is being investigated to help power companies comply with EPA mandates and offers a market opportunity for long-term biocarbon storage.
Biochar Projects
Resource: Research Summary: Developing Biochar Specifications for Stormwater Management
Summary: Stormwater runoff from roads contains heavy metals and hydrocarbons created by vehicles. Roadside bioretention systems can filter stormwater to mitigate pollutants entering Minnesota bodies of water. A recent project gave MnDOT and local agencies recommended specifications for biochar, a soil amendment produced from forest waste such as ash trees infested with the emerald ash borer that can be used for stormwater management and other environmental protections. Biochar properties can vary, impacting contaminant filtering effectiveness. In the first phase of this project, researchers identified optimal processing temperatures and recommended biochar characteristics for maximum stormwater contaminant removal and carbon sequestration. In the second phase, the identified products will be field-tested to support design guidance for amending soils to benefit stormwater management, soil health and climate change.
Featured Research Projects
Related News
NRRI plants fast-growing trees to test their ability to clean up pollutants.
Providing a forum to develop international forest research and collaboration networks between universities, government, and research institutions in Finland and Minnesota.
Industry byproducts are put to the test as filtering media in roadside swales.
Federally funded research is bringing biomass to steelmaking to reduce the use of fossil coal, lower carbon emissions.
Watching NRRI facility transform is satisfying work for this project engineer.
Biochar catalyzes first year chemistry learning experience at UMD.
Post-doc explores treatment techniques for PFAS in food waste to remove roadblocks to energy production.
Organic chemist finds flexibility is key to moving NRRI innovations forward.
U.S. Department of Energy and NRRI fund project to develop biocarbon to replace fossil carbon in steelmaking process
Early NRRI R&D went on ‘rollercoaster ride’ leading to an international effort starring Minnesota’s giving tree, the paper birch
Media Coverage
- – Turning local wood waste into a powerful tool for cleaner water – University of Minnesota Center for Transportation Studies
- – Big Plans for Biochar – Minnesota Conservation Volunteer
- – Biocarbon Meets Steel Production – Biomass Magazine
- – How biochar — the ‘Swiss Army knife of climate tools’ — is growing in Minnesota – MPR
- – Minneapolis is on the leading edge of biochar, a carbon sequestering material full of promise and still under research – Star Tribune
- – NRRI Works To Develop “Green Steel” Making Process – KDAL
- – NRRI receives grant to replace fossil fuel in some steelmaking – Business North
- – Whatever happened to … birch bark extracts? – Hometown Focus
- – Northland researchers look to biochar as possible climate solution – Duluth News Tribune
- – Study looks into biochar for battery recycling – Waste & Recycling Magazine
- – Multi-Year Initiative Funded by the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) Aims to Support a More Resilient and Sustainable Domestic Supply Chain by Investing in Next Generation Metal Recycling Technologies – Waste Advantage Magazine
- – Earth Month: NRRI’s Biochar research – WDIO
- – Biochar forestry could reduce wildfire risk and capture carbon – Quetico Superior Wilderness News
- – Forest Service partners with researchers to transform wildfire fuel into biochar in Superior National Forest – WTIP