Biochar concrete, a sustainable building material with high potential is in its nascent stage of development.
Associate Professor Kua Harn Wei, Assistant Dean (Academic), School of Design and Environment was invited by the European Structural Integrity Society (ESIS) to speak on "Biochar concrete: history, milestones, challenges and opportunities".
Biochar, a permeable, carbon-rich material recycled from saw dust, is mixed with cement, creating a 20 per cent stronger and 50 per cent more watertight material.
As one of the pioneers in the research work of biochar concrete, Prof Kua aims to promote the use of biochar as a sustainable building material that reduces the carbon intensity of the building industry.
Speaking at the 1st Virtual Summer School on "Concrete: innovation and prospective trends" on 21 July 2020, Prof Kua outlined the brief history of biochar concrete/mortar, his research team's key milestones, and some of the challenges and opportunities for future development of this field.
"There should be more applications of biochar in harsh condition, this is in line with the larger picture of climate change adaptation," shared Prof Kua.
Watch the full video here and connect with Prof Kua at bdgkuahw@nus.edu.sg
