Wedoany.com Report-Jan 6，Known as CalyChar, the new material is an advanced form of hydrochar, a charcoal-like material formed by using heat and water to treat organic/bio waste in a process known as hydrothermal carbonisation (HTC).
“CalyChar represents an exciting step forward in our efforts to combat climate change. By enhancing the ability of hydrochar to capture CO2, we can develop a more cost-effective and long-lasting solution for reducing carbon dioxide levels in our atmosphere,” says Teesside University’s Dr Humbul Suleman (pictured).
By combining hydrochar with materials like amino acids and metal oxides to create CalyChar the researchers aim to overcome the material’s traditional limitations in CO2 capture. In doing so, they aim to create a functionalised material that can directly capture CO2 for years once carbonised, and permanently store it as a stable carbonate.
The project will also explore the environmental impact of adding carbonised material to soils and wetlands, with expert support from the Tees River Trust, a river habitat conservation body in North East England.
Additionally, CalyChar could be used in bio-concrete and bio-cement, offering long-term carbon storage while creating jobs and driving growth in construction and agriculture. As the urgency to limit global warming to 2°C intensifies, removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere is more crucial than ever and was emphasised as essential in the press statements from this year’s COP29 climate change conference.
“Together with Teesside University, we are exploring ways to accelerate its deployment in real-world applications, from soil enrichment to sustainable construction,” says Professor Ondej Mašek from Edinburgh University,
The project has been funded by the CO2RE The Greenhouse Gas Removal Hub’s Pathfinders III scheme, part of UKRI’s effort to drive a major step towards achieving net zero emissions, and to benefit from the £400 billion future global market in greenhouse gas removal.
