Application of Biochar in Industrial Bioprocesses
Pyrolysis converts organic matter into a carbon-rich solid char (biochar) and volatile products by heating in the absence of oxygen. Biochar can be produced from a diverse range of biowaste and constitutes a material that can be used as a platform to develop a series of products incorporating the desired properties for a given application. Although biochar incorporates a traditional focus on agronomic technologies, the project will evaluate its use in areas of high industrial interest where it could be employed as a renewable and low-cost support material. Although activated carbon has been extensively applied as an immobilization carrier for different applications, the cost related to carbon activation elevates the overall cost. Similarly to the use of activated carbon in industrial biotechnology, biochar constitutes a carbonaceous material that can serve as a promising and cheaper alternative biomaterial for immobilization of microorganisms (and potentially other biomolecules) in different areas including biotechnology, food technology, biology and medicine. Herein, we evaluate among others the applicability of biochar to enhance the efficiency of major industrial bioprocesses.