California clean technology company Bioforcetech has received a $310,000 grant to support the use of wastewater biosolids-derived carbon material in concrete production.
The Bridge Carbontech grant was awarded through Columbia University’s Carbontech Development Initiative, a programme supported by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. The funding will support the development of an industrial dosing system designed to help concrete batch plants incorporate Bioforcetech’s OurCarbon material into concrete mixes.
The project sits at the intersection of two growing challenges for cities and utilities: how to manage biosolids from wastewater treatment, and how to reduce the embodied carbon of construction materials.
Turning biosolids into carbon material
Biosolids, sometimes described as sewage sludge, are the treated solids left after wastewater treatment. Utilities must manage these residuals through routes such as land application, landfilling or further treatment, but regulatory and public concern around contaminants, including PFAS, is increasing pressure on conventional disposal routes.
Bioforcetech’s technology processes biosolids on-site through biological drying followed by high-temperature pyrolysis. The company’s BioDryer system removes moisture before its SigmaOne process heats the material in a low-oxygen environment to produce a stable carbon-rich biochar.
The resulting material, branded as OurCarbon, can be used in applications including concrete, inks, coatings, polymers and fabric dyes.
“Bioforcetech has made its name building technologies that enable circularity. We are excited to take everything we’ve learned processing wastewater solids and apply it to closing a carbon loop into concrete for durable long-term storage,” said Dario Presezzi, CEO of Bioforcetech.
PFAS pressure on biosolids management
PFAS contamination has become a major issue for wastewater utilities and biosolids managers. These persistent chemicals can accumulate in wastewater residuals, complicating land application and increasing scrutiny of disposal practices.
Bioforcetech says its pyrolysis process has been tested for PFAS reduction, including at its flagship installation at Silicon Valley Clean Water in California. The company says recent third-party testing by engineering firm Brown and Caldwell found 99.98% PFAS removal efficiency across the full commercial system.
The US Environmental Protection Agency has also studied PFAS destruction during biosolids pyrolysis, reflecting wider sector interest in thermal treatment as a possible pathway for reducing PFAS risks in wastewater residuals.
Concrete as a carbon storage route
The Columbia-backed project will focus on the final stage of the supply chain: making it easier for concrete producers to use OurCarbon automatically in batch plant operations.
Bioforcetech says each tonne of OurCarbon sequesters 1.02 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent and can avoid up to 24 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent compared with landfill disposal, based on third-party environmental product declaration data.
Once incorporated into concrete, the company says the carbon is stored in a durable construction material, creating a route for long-term carbon storage while also diverting biosolids from landfill.
“New York State is a clear example of a government that is untangling the many difficulties in decarbonising and cleaning up its material streams,” said Garrett Benisch, Chief Development Officer at Bioforcetech.
He added that the Carbontech Development Initiative had recognised the project as a “multibenefit opportunity” for waste management and construction.
Building a local circular supply chain
Bioforcetech said the grant will fund the design, prototyping and production of a dosing system that can automate the delivery of OurCarbon into concrete trucks. The aim is to make the material easier for batch plants to handle as part of normal production workflows.
The approach could be particularly relevant in New York, where municipalities face rising disposal costs, tighter PFAS scrutiny and growing demand for lower-carbon construction materials.
Kartik Pilar, Program Manager of the Carbontech Development Initiative, said the project reflects the programme’s aim to accelerate carbon management technologies with commercial potential.
“Bioforcetech exemplifies CDI’s mission to accelerate the commercialisation of innovative carbon management technologies that can deliver meaningful climate and economic impact,” Pilar said.
Bioforcetech was founded in 2012 and says it now has more than 40 drying units deployed across 17 sites in the United States and Italy. The company says it also operates full-scale biosolids pyrolysis systems in both countries.
The wider opportunity will depend on regulatory acceptance, commercial concrete performance, local supply chain economics and the ability to demonstrate consistent environmental outcomes at scale.
FAQs
What has Bioforcetech received funding for?
Bioforcetech has received a $310,000 Bridge Carbontech grant to develop an industrial dosing system for adding its OurCarbon material to concrete mixes at batch plants.
What is OurCarbon?
OurCarbon is a carbon-rich material produced from organic waste, including wastewater biosolids, using Bioforcetech’s biological drying and pyrolysis technology.
How does Bioforcetech process biosolids?
The company uses biological drying to reduce moisture before heating the material through pyrolysis in a low-oxygen environment, producing biochar.
Why is PFAS important in biosolids management?
PFAS chemicals can persist in the environment and may be present in wastewater residuals, increasing regulatory and public concern around land application and disposal of biosolids.
How could concrete help store carbon?
Biochar-based materials can contain stable carbon. When incorporated into durable construction products such as concrete, that carbon can be stored for long periods rather than being released back into the atmosphere.
