{
  "id": 9046863,
  "title": "Scientists Make Stronger Concrete With Human-Waste Biochar",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/scientists-make-stronger-concrete-with-human-waste-biochar",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-09-22T00:17:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Colombia One",
    "slug": "colombia-one",
    "url": "https://colombiaone.com/2026/09/21/stronger-concrete-human-waste-biochar/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Scientists in India and the United States have created a concrete mixture using biochar sourced from treated human fecal sludge. This biochar-enhanced concrete showed stronger performance than regular concrete in laboratory tests. The most significant improvement occurred after 91 days, with compressive strength increasing by 21% and flexural strength by 42% when 10% of the cement was replaced with biochar. Even a 5% replacement provided a modest boost, with 20% and 36% improvements in compressive and flexural strength, respectively. However, a 15% replacement did not outperform the lower concentrations. The research, led by civil engineer Raghuvesh Tiwari, involved testing biochar at 5%, 10%, and 15% concentrations and comparing it to conventional concrete. The biochar was derived from fecal sludge from a treatment facility in Warangal, Telangana, India, which was dried and heated at temperatures between 350-450°C to create a carbon-rich solid. The presence of more pores, cracks, and poorly bonded areas in the 15% biochar mixture compared to lower concentrations was noted. While the 42% improvement in flexural strength specifically applies to that property, overall performance varied with biochar concentration. Lower concentrations showed better water absorption, porosity, and drying shrinkage. The study also found reduced heavy-metal concentrations in the concrete with increased biochar content. Although the findings are promising, further testing is needed to assess the long-term durability of concrete containing fecal-sludge biochar under real-world conditions.",
  "summary": "Scientists in India and the United States have developed a concrete mixture using biochar derived from treated human fecal sludge that showed greater strength than conventional concrete in laboratory tests. The biggest improvement came after 91 days, when replacing 10% of the cement with biochar increased compressive strength by 21% and flexural strength by 42%. […]",
  "key_points": [
    "Scientists in India and the US create biochar-enhanced concrete",
    "10% biochar replacement boosts compressive strength by 21%",
    "Flexural strength improves 42% with 10% biochar substitution"
  ],
  "editors_take": "This breakthrough in concrete production using human-waste biochar suggests a potential pathway for more sustainable and stronger building materials, while also reducing heavy-metal concentrations in concrete.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}