Funding for research project: biochar from sewage sludge as slow-release fertiliser

University of Hamburg project supported by Novocarbo receives 30,000 euros

The research project “SUPERCHAR”, led by Dr Maria-Elena Vorrath from the Department of Earth System Sciences at the University of Hamburg, has received funding of €30,000 from Hamburg Innovation. By combining sewage sludge and chicken manure, the researchers aim to develop an innovative biochar that can be used as a phosphorus-potassium fertiliser to improve the nutrient supply in agriculture. Novocarbo is supporting the research as a project partner.

‘SUPERCHAR’ addresses several environmental challenges at once, particularly with regard to the environmentally friendly disposal of sewage sludge, creating sustainable sources of nutrients and reducing emissions. Head of research Dr Vorrath explains: “By combining sewage sludge with organic biomass, we want to develop a low-cost and effective solution for the supply of fertilisers in agriculture.” To recover phosphorus and potassium from the sewage sludge, Dr Vorrath uses the ‘mineral doping’ method, which she has already developed further in her previous Rockchar project, which Novocarbo also supported.

The project co-operates with several partners, including the Hamburg-based companies Novocarbo and Goldeimer, in order to achieve optimal results. “Supporting promising research projects that further advance the potential of biochar as a climate solution, is of particular importance to us. Close collaboration between companies and science is essential to significantly advance urgently needed climate technologies,” says Caspar von Ziegner, CEO of Novocarbo.

The funding from Hamburg Innovation is intended to strengthen cooperation between research and companies and encourage realisable innovations. ‘We are confident that our work can contribute to circular economy and the reduction of emissions in agriculture,’ says Dr Vorrath. The development and successful demonstration of the effect of ‘SUPERCHAR’ could not only lead to an improvement in the supply of nutrients in agriculture in the long term, but could also become an important component of sustainable waste management.

Share this post on
Scroll to Top