top of page

'Biochar' Could Help Clean Polluted Water

A type of charcoal made from eucalyptus trees could provide the solution to South Africa's polluted water.

A University of Stellenbosch academic is developing a low-cost, low-tech water purification system with the charcoal, which will remove organic compounds from waste water in urban areas, the DST-NRF Centre of Excellence in Food Security said on Monday.

The charcoal, called biochar, could remove organic, some inorganic, and microbiological contaminants from water.

Ollivier Girard/CIFOR

bottom of page