Biochar in civil construction: review of the potential use of biochar in cementitious materials for improving properties

Authors

  • Giovana Biscotto de Carvalho Universidade Federal de Viçosa
  • Bernardo Victor Silva de Andrade Universidade Federal de Viçosa
  • Filipe Emerick Caldeira Universidade Federal de Viçosa
  • Jane Aparecida dos Santos Universidade Federal de Viçosa
  • Gustavo Emílio Soares de Lima Universidade Federal de Viçosa
  • Julia Luiza Monteiro Lopes Universidade Federal de Viçosa
  • Angélica de Cássia Carneiro Universidade Federal de Viçosa
  • Ricardo André Fiorotti Peixoto Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto
  • José Maria Franco de Carvalho Universidade Federal de Viçosa
  • Leonardo Gonçalves Pedroti Universidade Federal de Viçosa

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46421/enarc.v9i1.7390

Keywords:

Biochar, Mortar, Cementitious properties, Sustainability, Waste

Abstract

The use of biochar in construction materials emerges as a potential solution to improve mechanical and physical properties, in addition to contributing to environmental sustainability. This work reviews the applications of biochar in cementitious materials, such as mortar and concrete, including its use as a substitute for aggregates and cement, as well as filler and additive, through N publications indexed between 2020 and 2025. Therefore, it is noted that biochar improves compressive strength, reduces autogenous shrinkage, and increases the durability of cementitious composites. Additionally, the potential of biochar in sensor materials is explored, due to its electrical conductivity, reinforcing its technological versatility. Based on the bibliographic analysis, the technical and environmental feasibility of using biochar in construction is highlighted, aligning with the principles of the circular economy and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. This overview seeks to encourage new studies and practical applications.

References

AHMED, S.; REHMAN, A.; AMJAD, A.; HASIB, M. H.; HUSSAIN, F.; KHAN, A. Q.; KHUSHNOOD, R. A. Development of multifunctional cementitious composite using biochar. Journal of Building Engineering, 96, 110598. Acesso em: 26 abr. 2025. doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/J.JOBE.2024.110598

ALMERON, M. M.; FERREIRA, S. D.; MAREZE, P. H.; & GODINHO, M. Mechanical and acoustic performance of mortar with partial replacement by biochar from civil construction wood waste at advanced ages. Construction and Building Materials, 428, 136281. Acesso em: 28 abr. 2025. doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2024.136281

AMAN, A. M. N., SELVARAJOO, A., LAU, T. L., & CHEN, W. H. Biochar as Cement Replacement to Enhance Concrete Composite Properties: A Review. Energies 2022, Vol. 15, Page 7662, 15(20), 7662. doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/en15207662

ANEJA, Akash; SHARMA, R. L.; SINGH, Harpal. Mechanical and durability properties of biochar concrete. Materials Today: Proceedings, v. 65, p. 3724-3730, 2022. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2022.06.371

BARBHUIYA, Salim; DAS, Bibhuti Bhusan; KANAVARIS, Fragkoulis. Biochar-concrete: A comprehensive review of properties, production and sustainability. Case Studies in Construction Materials, v.22, e02859, 2024. doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cscm.2024.e02859

CHEN, Liang et al. Biochar-augmented carbon-negative concrete. Chemical Engineering Journal, v. 431, p. 133946, 2022. Disponível em: <https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1385894721055194?via%3Dihub>. Acesso em: 10 mar. 2025. doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2021.133946

CUTHBERTSON, Douglas et al. Biochar from residual biomass as a concrete filler for improved thermal and acoustic properties. Biomass and bioenergy, v. 120, p. 77-83, 2019. doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/19648189.2021.2021998

DANISH, Aamar et al. Reusing biochar as a filler or cement replacement material in cementitious composites: A review. Construction and Building Materials, v. 300, p. 124295, 2021. doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2021.124295

GUPTA, Souradeep; KRISHNAN, Padmaja; KASHANI, Alireza; KUA, Harn Wei. Application of biochar from coconut and wood waste to reduce shrinkage and improve physical properties of silica fume-cement mortar. Construction and Building Materials, v. 262, n 120688, 2020. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.120688

HAN, B. et al. Carbon nanotube-based cementitious composites: a review. Journal of Materials Science, v. 49, n. 19, p. 6599-6613, 2014. doi:https://doi.org/10.1177/15280837241262

HAQUE, M. I. et al. Production of sustainable, low-permeable and self-sensing cementitious composites using biochar. Sustainable Materials and Technologies, v. 28, n. e00279, jul. 2021. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.susmat.2021.e00279

HYLTON, Julia et al. Relevant biochar characteristics influencing compressive strength of biochar-cement mortars. Biochar, v. 6, n. 1, p. 1-27, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42773-024-00375-6

INSTITUTO BRASILEIRO DE GEOGRAFIA E ESTATÍSTICA - IBGE. Pesquisa Anual da Indústria da Construção 2022. IBGE 2022 .Disponível em: < https://www.ibge.gov.br/estatisticas/economicas/industria/9018-pesquisa-anual-da-industria-da-construcao.html >. Acesso: 11 fev. 2025.

JEONG, Junyoung et al. Ecofriendly and electrically conductive cementitious composites using melamine-functionalized biochar from waste coffee beans. Crystals, v. 12, n. 6, p. 820, 2022. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst12060820

JIA, Yaqi et al. Effect of biochar from municipal solid waste on mechanical and freeze–thaw properties of concrete. Construction and Building Materials, v. 368, 130374, 2023. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2023.130374

KONSTA-GDOUTOS, M. S.; AZA, C. A. Self-sensing carbon nanotube (CNT) and nanofiber (CNF) cementitious composites for real time damage assessment in smart structures. Cement and Concrete Composites, v. 53, p. 162-169, 2014. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2014.07.003

KUZYAKOV, Y.; Bogomolova, I.; Glaser, B. Biochar stability in soil: Decomposition during eight years and transformation as assessed by compound-specific 14C analysis. Soil Biol. Biochem. 2014, 70, 229–236.

LIN, Xuqun et al. Biochar-cement concrete toward decarbonisation and sustainability for construction: Characteristic, performance and perspective. Journal of Cleaner Production, 138219, 2023. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.138219

LIU, Wen; LI, Kangning; XU, Shilang. Utilizing bamboo biochar in cement mortar as a bio-modifier to improve the compressive strength and crack-resistance fracture ability. Construction and Building Materials, v. 327, 2022. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2022.126917

MALJAEE, Hamid et al. Sustainable lightweight mortar using biochar as sand replacement. European Journal of Environmental and Civil Engineering, v. 26, n. 16, p. 8263-8279, 2022. doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/19648189.2021.2021998

MENDES, M., Bauer, E., & Silva, F. Avaliação dos parâmetros de autoadensabilidade e de reologia do concreto autoadensável. Matéria (rio De Janeiro), 22(4), e–11878. 2017. doi: https://doi.org/10.1590/S1517-707620170004.0212

PEARCE, Annie R.; AHN, Yong Han. Sustainable buildings and infrastructure: paths to the future. Abingdon: Routledge, 2012. Disponível em: https://www.routledge.com/Sustainable-Buildings-and-Infrastructure-Paths-to-the-Future/Pearce-Ahn/p/book/9780415690928. Acesso em: 28 abr. 2025.

SIRICO, Alice; BELLETTI, Beatrice; BERNARDI, Patrizia; MALCEVSCHI, Alessio; PAGLIARI, Federico; FORNONI, Paolo; MORETTI, Emanuele. Effects of biochar addition on long-term behavior of concrete. Theoretical and Applied Fracture Mechanics, v. 162, 2022. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tafmec.2022.103626

SUAREZ-RIERA, Daniel; et al. The effect of different biochar on the mechanical properties of cement-pastes and mortars. Buildings, 2023, 13, 2900.. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13122900

TAN, Kanghao; PANG, Xijun; QIN, Yinghong; WANG, Junsong. Properties of cement mortar containing pulverized biochar pyrolyzed at different temperatures. Construction and Building Materials, v. 262, 120616, 2020. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.12061

TAN, Kang-Hao et al. Biochar as a partial cement replacement material for developing sustainable concrete: an overview. Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, v. 33, n. 12, p. 03121001, 2021.. doi: https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)MT.1943-5533.0003987

VERMA, Praveen; CHOWDHURY, Rajib; CHAKRABARTI, Anupam. Papel dos materiais à base de grafeno (GO) na melhoria das propriedades físico-químicas de nanocompósitos cimentícios: uma revisão. Journal of Materials Science v. 56, n. 35, p. 19329-19358, 2021. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2024.110963

WANG, Tianyu et al. Sustainable and mechanical properties of Engineered Cementitious Composites with biochar: Integrating micro-and macro-mechanical insight. Cement and Concrete Composites, v. 155, n. 105813, 2025. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2024.105813

YANG, Xu; WANG, Xiao-Yong. Hydration-strength-durability-workability of biochar-cement binary blends. Journal of Building Engineering, v. 42, 103064, 2021.doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2021.103064

YE, Ping et al. The state-of-the-art review on biochar as green additives in cementitious composites: performance, applications, machine learning predictions, and environmental and economic implications. Biochar, v. 7, n. 1, p. 21, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42773-024-00423-1

Published

2025-08-11

How to Cite

Carvalho , G. B. de, de Andrade, B. V. S., Caldeira, F. E., dos Santos, J. A., de Lima, G. E. S., Lopes, J. L. M., … Pedroti, L. G. (2025). Biochar in civil construction: review of the potential use of biochar in cementitious materials for improving properties. ENCONTRO NACIONAL DE APROVEITAMENTO DE RESÍDUOS NA CONSTRUÇÃO, 9(1), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.46421/enarc.v9i1.7390