Expert Witness – Biochar & Activated Carbons

Understanding Biochar and Activated Carbon

Biochar and activated carbon are two carbon-rich materials prized for their wide-ranging environmental and industrial applications. Although they share certain characteristics, each has distinct production methods, properties, and specific uses that make them uniquely suited to different functions. Below, we explore how biochar and activated carbon work, their significant roles across industries, and the critical expertise required to provide expert witness services in cases involving these materials.

What Is Biochar and Activated Carbon?

Biochar is a type of charcoal produced through pyrolysis, which involves heating organic matter—such as agricultural waste or plant biomass—in a low-oxygen environment. This process yields a stable, porous form of carbon capable of sequestering atmospheric carbon dioxide for long periods, making it especially valuable for sustainable agriculture and climate initiatives. In agricultural applications, biochar improves soil health by enhancing water and nutrient retention, reducing the need for chemical fertilizers, and promoting a habitat for beneficial microorganisms that support plant growth. The carbon-storing ability of biochar helps mitigate climate change by trapping atmospheric carbon within the soil, preventing it from returning to the atmosphere.

Activated Carbon is produced through additional processing, which significantly increases its surface area and adsorption capabilities, making it highly effective for filtration and purification needs. Derived from carbon-rich materials like wood, coconut shells, or coal, activated carbon is used in applications requiring high adsorption, such as water and air purification, industrial gas processing, and environmental cleanup. Its unique porous structure enables it to capture contaminants, toxins, and gases, creating cleaner air and water across various industries.

Industrial Applications for Biochar and Activated Carbon

Due to their specialized properties, both biochar and activated carbon serve critical roles across multiple sectors, providing distinct benefits to industries ranging from agriculture to pharmaceuticals.

Biochar is particularly valuable in agriculture, where its porous structure improves water and nutrient retention in soil, and reduces dependency on chemical fertilizers and excessive irrigation. This contributes to sustainable farming practices, fostering beneficial soil microbiology and supporting healthier plant growth. Beyond agriculture, biochar can store long-term carbon, helping with Carbon Sequestration and Climate Change Mitigation.  This is done by capturing atmospheric carbon that would otherwise contribute to greenhouse gases. Furthermore, biochar aids Waste Management by transforming agricultural and organic waste into valuable material, reducing methane emissions, and diverting waste from landfills. Though less common than activated carbon in filtration, biochar’s porous structure also enables it to function as a Water Filter in agricultural wastewater treatment, effectively capturing contaminants like heavy metals and organic pollutants.

Activated Carbon has a broader range of applications across numerous sectors. Its role in Water Purification is perhaps the most recognized, as it removes a broad spectrum of contaminants—chlorine, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), pesticides, and heavy metals—from drinking water and wastewater. In Air Filtration, carbon’s adsorption capabilities are ideal for eliminating pollutants, odors, and toxic gases in industries where clean air is vital, such as petrochemicals, food processing, and pharmaceuticals. Gas Purification applications are also critical in industries like chemical manufacturing and natural gas processing, where activated carbon removes sulfur compounds, hydrocarbons, and nitrogen oxides, resulting in purer end products and reduced environmental emissions. Activated carbon also plays a notable role in Gold Recovery within the mining industry, as it binds to dissolved gold particles during cyanide leaching and facilitates gold recovery. In Medical and Pharmaceutical Applications, activated carbon absorbs toxins for poison control and removes impurities during pharmaceutical production. Moreover, biochar and activated carbon contribute to Environmental Remediation by capturing and neutralizing soil, air, and water pollutants. While activated carbon often handles industrial spills and contaminated groundwater, biochar is also valuable for soil remediation, trapping heavy metals, and improving soil quality.

What Credentials Should an Expert in Biochar and Activated Carbon Have?

Given the complexity of biochar and activated carbon’s applications and the highly regulated industries they serve, expert witnesses in these materials require a robust combination of academic credentials, practical industry experience, and regulatory familiarity. Most experts hold advanced degrees in Environmental Science, Chemical Engineering, or a Related Field, where coursework in materials science, biochemistry, and environmental engineering builds a deep understanding of these materials’ production and applications. A specialization in biochar, activated carbon, or adsorption science often equips experts with targeted knowledge of how these materials interact with various contaminants, an essential aspect of industrial processes and environmental applications.

Industry Experience is indispensable, as expertise in real-world pyrolysis processes, carbon activation, and the specific uses of biochar and activated carbon brings credibility to an expert’s testimony. Regulatory familiarity is also essential, since biochar and activated carbon applications are often under strict oversight from agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Research and Publications further strengthen an expert’s credentials, with peer-reviewed studies in adsorption kinetics, environmental remediation, and carbon sequestration reflecting a deep understanding of these materials’ properties and applications. Experts with patented new production methods, or biochar and activated carbon applications, can often demonstrate practical contributions to the field. Professional Certifications and Affiliations with organizations like the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists (AAEES), International Biochar Initiative (IBI), or American Carbon Society further reinforce an expert’s credibility, as these affiliations provide ongoing education and keep experts abreast of the latest research and industry standards.

How an Expert Witness Can Help in Litigation

In legal cases involving biochar and activated carbon, expert witnesses bring invaluable technical knowledge that helps solve complex issues. Environmental, product liability, intellectual property, and regulatory compliance cases often center on these materials, requiring expert insights for thorough analysis and testimony.

Environmental Litigation commonly involves disputes over biochar or activated carbon’s effectiveness in ecological remediation, where an expert witness can assess whether the materials were applied correctly to capture contaminants in soil, air, or water, and if they met regulatory standards for cleanup. In Product Liability and Safety Concerns cases, an expert can evaluate if products containing biochar or activated carbon met the required standards for removing contaminants, and whether failures posed risks to health or safety.

Patent Infringement and Intellectual Property Disputes arise when proprietary production methods for biochar or activated carbon lead to conflicts over intellectual property. Here, experts assess whether a company’s production techniques or product properties infringe on existing patents, analyzing elements such as material structure, production techniques, and performance. In Contract Disputes in Industrial Applications, biochar and activated carbon are often specified in contracts for waste management, water treatment, or industrial filtration. When performance issues occur, an expert can testify whether the materials delivered met the contract’s technical specifications and whether the methods employed were appropriate. Lastly, in Regulatory Compliance and Safety matters, expert witnesses determine whether the materials used conform to environmental and safety standards, particularly in cases where adherence to EPA or FDA guidelines is mandatory.

Conclusion

Biochar and activated carbon are versatile materials with applications across agriculture, environmental cleanup, water treatment, and industrial processes, making them crucial to modern sustainability efforts. The expertise required to develop, implement, and regulate these materials is equally valuable in legal contexts, where an expert witness in biochar and activated carbon can clarify complex technical issues. From assessing product performance and environmental impact to navigating intellectual property rights and regulatory compliance, expert witnesses play a vital role in resolving disputes and bringing technical insights that support informed and fair legal outcomes.

About LEC Partners (formerly Lee Enterprises Consulting)

LEC Partners was founded in 1995 and currently has over 180 experts worldwide. These working experts are renowned, hand-selected leaders, with over 97% holding advanced degrees and averaging over 30 years in their respective fields.