Dr Srinivasamurthy, from the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, experiments with different ratios of human urine and biochar. Biochar is a name for charcoal when it is used for particular purposes, especially as a soil amendment. Like all charcoal, biochar is created by pyrolysis (decomposition of organic material at very high temperatures) of biomass, usually coconut shells.
The research is carried out to study the utilization of biochar as an absorbent for urine, and to obtain a nutrient enriched fertiliser that can easily be transported in powdered form. Calculated amount of sulphuric acid is added to make the mixture acidic and reduce the smell problem. Initial results seem encouraging with the added benefits of carbon sequestration and improvement in the soils physical, chemical and biological condition.