Currently there are no simple methods of removing pollutants from agricultural drainage water or fracking water. Wastewater from other sources is typically treated by expensive biological and/or chemical methods that also may have high energy requirements. SDSU anticipates that this invention will solve currently un-addressed problems with agricultural drainage water and fracking water in a low cost and low energy input process. A broad range of applications could be exploited by this technology for the purpose of cleansing water of pollutants. Agricultural drainage water from tiling is known to contain nutrients and in some cases herbicides and pesticides. This agricultural runoff is known to cause the \"dead zone\"" in the Gulf of Mexico and a solution to cleanse this drainage water before it enters streams would be valuable. Fracking is a process in which water mixed with certain chemicals is pumped underground under high pressures to fracture the oil-bearing substratum and push out the oil. Fracking water thus contains both the chemicals added to is along with components from the oil and substratum. Use of fracking is rapidly expanding but adverse effects are now being noted. In fact many localities are now considering regulation of this industry as it pollutes surface and ground waters. Biochar may also find application of cleanup of other types of agricultural municipal or industrial wastewaters."
Low cost and low energy input process