Charcoal made from human waste could help solve fertiliser shortages as well as reduce pollution and energy use, a study has found. … Treated sewage sludge is already spread on farmland, but its use is controversial as it often contains microplastics, heavy metals, Pfas forever chemicals, pathogens, and pharmaceuticals.The researchers say biochar can avoid this problem by separating the waste at source. … The biochar production process also allows nutrient proportions to be adjusted according to the needs of individual crops. This can address problems associated with fertiliser use such as weed growth and eutrophication – when excess nutrients leach into groundwater, causing rapid growth of algae which depletes oxygen availability.

Other biochar news:

• Auburn University: Blog: Researchers using biochar to help farmers, clean water, power cars
• Nature: Scientific Reports: Enhanced aqueous phosphate removal using chitosan-modified zirconium-loaded cork biochar