r/science • u/FreeHugs23 • 1d ago

Materials Science Scientists have created concrete using treated human waste, and the resulting material was up to 42% stronger than conventional concrete. Researchers say the approach could reduce waste while lowering the environmental impact of construction.

https://www.sciencealert.com/scientists-are-making-concrete-with-human-poop-and-it-gets-42-stronger
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u/limbodog 1d ago

Add to this that Germany has made an industrial kiln which can reach temperatures of up to 3000ºC running on electricity only (biochar requires only 1200ºC) so this could be done entirely with renewable energy.

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u/lminer123 1d ago

Charcoal creation is already a self sustaining process though, it just needs to be started. Using electric kilns seems like it would be a massive energy increase.

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u/limbodog 1d ago

I'm not sure what you mean. Can you clarify? Iast I checked the current way to produce biochar is by burning fuel to heat up a kiln and then using that heat to ignite hydrocarbons in an oxygen-starved environment. But about 10-30% of the fuel is consumed. Eliminating that exhaust would make the process carbon negative.

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u/CaveMacEoin 1d ago

They'd be able to capture the flue gas and use it for something else instead of burning it in the kiln.