Can biochar be toxic? PhD student Ewa Syguła will try to find out

• Biochar has many useful applications, but it can also emit harmful volatile organic compounds. PhD student Ewa Syguła plans to define a mathematical model that will predict the potential risks posed by biochar.
• Ewa Syguła received a grant of over PLN 500 000 from the National Science Centre for the implementation of her doctoral thesis.

Biochar, or biocarbon, is produced during the anaerobic thermal decomposition of biomass or bio-waste, called the pyrolysis process. It is widely used, among others, in energy and agriculture, for example as a substitute for fossil fuels or as an additive to improve soil properties. But biochar can also be harmful and emit volatile toxic organic compounds, which PhD student of the UPWr Doctoral School Ewa Syguła plans to examine.

Biochar – is it useful or harmful?

Biochar has become in recent years a popular solution for addressing the climate and energy crisis. However, research conducted so far focused mainly on its properties and the possibility of generating energy from waste, while the negative impact of volatile organic compounds was omitted. 

– Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can have a negative impact on the environment and human health. The emission of these compounds may be harmful to people working, for example, in processing, transport or storage of biochar. So I want to check whether the type of substrate and the temperature of the process impact the emission of VOCs – says Ewa Syguła.

Biochar is produced in the Biomass and Waste Laboratory, while the research for VOC emissions is carried out by the PhD student in the Department of Food Chemistry and Biocatalysis with Dr. Jacek Łyczko. They jointly quantify the VOC emissions from biochar produced from different biomass components and at different process temperatures, because the different pyrolysis process parameters affect the properties of the resulting biochar.

The research will lead to defining a mathematical model to be used in predicting the potential risk of biochar. – Among other things, the research aims to find the right temperature and composition of biomass at which the least toxic volatile organic compounds will escape. At the same time, we want the final product to be high quality – explains the PhD student. 

As part of the project, Ewa will have a six-month internship at Iowa State University with her second supervisor – Prof. Jacek Koziel. She will be conducting model validation there. – I’m currently working on chemically extracted biomass components, i.e. not real bio-waste or biomass, but cellulose, lignin and hemicellulose fibres. Together with Professor Koziel, I will verify my data on real bio-waste – says Ewa Syguła.

A PhD in the form of a Preludium Bis 1 project

Ewa's doctoral thesis is carried out as part of a project of the National Science Centre – Preludium Bis 1. Its supervisor and at the same time project manager is Prof. Andrzej Białowiec, who submitted the research project to the programme. 

– I won the competition as part of my PhD and, as the winner, I have been guaranteed research funding and a defined strategy. The grant amounts to over PLN 500 000 – says the PhD student of the UPWr Doctoral School. In addition to this, Ewa is also responsible for the production of biochar and the basic technical designations in a project with Dr. Sylwia Stegenta-Dąbrowska on increasing the efficiency of composting with the use of biochar. 

The continuation of her scientific career at the UPWr Doctoral School was an obvious choice for Ewa. It was at the stage of her engineering studies in the field of renewable energy sources and waste management that she found out that she wanted to furtherher knowledge in the field of waste management. Although she initially chose studies on renewable energy sources, she quickly realised that she was more interested in the other aspect of the field.

– The classes led by Prof. Bialowiec stimulated my interest in waste management. When I realised the scale of the problem, and how much waste is generated, I decided that I wanted to contribute to the search for solutions in this area. In addition, Professor Białowiec, as a supervisor, creates constant challenges that influence my development, and it was this work profile that determined my choice of where I am now – says Ewa.

Ewa Syguła enrolled on two master's degree courses at the same time - at the UPWr she continued her studies in renewable energy sources and waste management, specialising in waste management, while at the Wrocław University of Science and Technology she began studying environmental engineering, specialising in water supply, sewage disposal and waste management. It was there that she expanded her knowledge of industrial waste. After getting her master’s degree, she decided to continue her scientific career at the Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences under the supervision of Prof. Andrzej Białowiec.

– The Department of Applied Bioeconomy is a new unit, we have a young team, a new laboratory, and another one is in the making – we are still developing. Professor Andrzej Białowiec, who is both my supervisor and the head of the Department, is a great team leader. I really enjoy working in such a dynamic environment – says the PhD student, adding that after completing her doctorate she plans to stay on at the university and continue her career as a scientist. 

Professor Andrzej Białowiec also enjoys working with the PhD student. – Ewa is very ambitious and enthusiastic about her research. I believe she will succeed if she properly uses her time at the Doctoral School and works on her own development. In addition to conducting scientific research, Ewa is also involved in work on her own projects, research initiatives, publications and actively works in the Lead Research Team of the Biomass Valorisation Group. She brings a positive vibe to the team – says the scientist. 

– I want to achieve something in waste management, I want to do my bit to improve the quality of the environment. The actions of individuals may seem small in perspective, but bit by bit anything can be achieved. I’m convinced that I’ll be able to change something – says the PhD student, laughing that even after work her thoughts revolve around topics related to the environment. – I always encourage my family and friends to act in accordance with the 'zero waste' trend. After all, everything that surrounds us will one day be waste – adds Ewa Syguła.