Biochar - A Sustainable, Multi-Purpose Material For The Construction Industry

13th Sept 2024

12.00 - 13:00

Webinar Overview

Discover how biochar, a sustainable form of charcoal, offers a whole range of benefits and applications to the construction industry, including innovative building materials, water treatment, odour control, soil treatment, tree health, landscaping including green walls, 3D printing and carbon capture. During this webinar you will hear from two leading experts from the Energy & Bioproducts Research Institute at Aston University.

Presenters Bio

Dr. Maria Pimenta-Ocampo

Research Associate- Aston University

Maria is an environmental engineer working at Aston University as Research Associate for the Biochar Cleantech Innovation Accelerator project. Maria has a research background in waste management through thermal treatments such as pyrolysis and hydrothermal carbonisation for the generation of valuable products since 2015.

Currently she is evaluating the environmental impact and carbon sequestration potential of pyrolysis products through Life Cycle Assessment and analysing the use of biochar to lock carbon in soil and also in alternative materials such as composite resins.

Dr. Chris Thomas

Knowledge Exchange Associate- Aston University

Chris works within the Energy and Bioproducts Research Institute, part of Aston University, situated in Birmingham. His current role is as a Knowledge Exchange Associate on an Innovate UK and West Midlands Combined Authority funded CleanTech Accelerator project. The project is focussed on the commercialisation of an innovative thermal conversion technology to produce biochar along with other commercially valuable products such as liquids and gases. Chris' role is both focussed on providing engineering and technical expertise in the field of thermal processing, as well as supporting business engagement with the academic team within the project and wider university.

Having completed his MEng in Chemical Engineering, Chris entered into the nuclear waste reprocessing sector in a number of technical roles. Deciding he wasn't done with his time at university he returned to academia and began studying towards a PhD. His work focussed on the thermal conversion of microalgae to produce liquid drop-in fuels for transportation. Chris has a strong interest in sustainability, particularly within agriculture and construction sectors.