Our very own Riccardo Ambrosini has co-developed a new European Biochar Industry Consortium (EBI) position paper on the permanence of biochar storage in concrete. This is a topic that is absolutely crucial to understand in detail as we must ensure the longevity of carbon removal. 🪨
𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
◾ A significant part of the carbon in biochars produced over 550°C is structurally equivalent to inertinite, a highly stable part of the earth’s crust.
◾In concrete, inertinite biochar becomes an inseparable part of the cement matrix. The only risk of reversal, i.e., a re-release of emissions, emerges if it is subjected to extremely high temperatures. Note that heat-based clinker recycling is in discussion but is only one of many methods being researched to obtain clinker from used concrete.
◾Most concrete material is recovered at the end-of-life, either for use as recycled aggregates or downcycled for use as a filler, such as in roads
◾None of the established recycling methods for concrete reach very high temperatures, meaning that the carbon storage will endure
𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐩𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 ⬇️
Matt Mallory, Olivia Thierley, Julian Cortes, Anna J. LEHNER, Harald Bier, Anne Wahl, Dr. Cristian Hedesiu, Olivia Thierley, Mariam Shafqat
#ecoLocked #Biochar #Permanence #Concrete #Recycling