Dr. Vishal Dawkar is a Senior Research Scientist at MITCON Consultancy and Engineering Services, Pune, India, where he contributes to the Biofuel and Green Chemistry Division by advancing biochar-based solutions for environmental sustainability and applied bioremediation. With a strong background in biochemistry and environmental sciences, his work focuses on the field application of biocharBiochar is a carbon-rich material created from biomass decomposition in low-oxygen conditions. It has important applications in environmental remediation, soil improvement, agriculture, carbon sequestration, energy storage, and sustainable materials, promoting efficiency and reducing waste in various contexts while addressing climate change challenges. More for soil health improvement, contaminant remediation, and sustainable biomassBiomass is a complex biological organic or non-organic solid product derived from living or recently living organism and available naturally. Various types of wastes such as animal manure, waste paper, sludge and many industrial wastes are also treated as biomass because like natural biomass these More valorisation. His research integrates fundamental scientific understanding with practical implementation, supporting the development of scalable and environmentally responsible technologies.

Dr. Dawkar’s work explores the interactions between biochar, microbial processes, and ecosystem functions, with particular emphasis on soil carbon dynamics, remediation strategies, and sustainable agricultural systems. Through his interdisciplinary approach, he contributes to solutions that connect waste management, carbon sequestration, and ecosystem restoration.

I am pleased to introduce Dr. Dawkar to the readers of Biochar Today and share insights from his scientific journey, which reflects his commitment to advancing biochar research and its practical applications in sustainable environmental management.

Shanthi Prabah: Your research background spans environmental microbiology, chemical biology, and bioremediation. What led you to focus on biochar, and how does it connect with your broader research interests?

 Vishal Dawkar: We are in a climate emergency. Soil is becoming barren at an alarming rate. Ecosystem health, sustainable development, and global food security are all at risk from soil degradation, driven by both human and natural factors. MITCON and, no doubt, myself too, to every next moment thinking about the Earth planet. Earlier, I was thinking about saving human beings from climate change and natural disaster however one incidence changed my vision. I realised that saving only humans is not a far-reaching answer; we must think about the Earth. The incident that changed my view was: one day on a weekend, while discussing climate change with my older daughter, Vibha (9th standard), I said, “We need to save human beings from climate change.” Eventually, she asked me, “Is that enough to save only human being?” and further said, “Think to save earth planet, there is hope.” That moment completely changed my perspective, and I started searching for sustainable solutions. At the same time, I came across the documentary “The Secret of El Dorado”—a documentary speaking about science and nature. The soil in the Amazon was unsuited for farming, but biochar, the marvellous material, transformed non-fertile soil into long-lasting fertile soil. It has been shown that biochar helps retain nutrients in the soil and sustain its fertility year to year. This is one of the great secrets of biochar, how to nurture the soil towards lasting productivity.  

My interest in biochar grew from my work in environmental microbiology, chemical biology, and bioremediation. Studying microbial responses in contaminated environments and molecular mechanisms of natural compounds—such as Azadirachtin-A for pest control—shaped my research direction. Biochar has become a natural focus because it links microbial processes with ecosystem functions such as carbon cycling, contaminant fate, and soil health, while supporting sustainability through biomass valorisation and carbon sequestration. It represents a synthesis of my goal to develop chemically informed, microbiologically grounded, and scalable environmental solutions.

SP: From your experience, what are the most common misconceptions about biochar among farmers, policymakers, or industry stakeholders?

VD: That’s a great question and one I’ve encountered repeatedly when speaking with growers, regulators, and industry partners. Biochar sits at the intersection of agriculture, climate policy and materials science, which makes it especially prone to oversimplification. The bigger picture is the overarching misconception is that biochar is either a miracle solution or a gimmick. In truth, it’s a powerful but context-dependent material. Its performance depends on chemistry, microbiology, soil physics and system design. Where I see the field heading and where my own interests lie is toward precision biochar matching feedstockFeedstock refers to the raw organic material used to produce biochar. This can include a wide range of materials, such as wood chips, agricultural residues, and animal manure. More, pyrolysis conditionsThe conditions under which pyrolysis takes place, such as temperature, heating rate, and residence time, can significantly affect the properties of the biochar produced.   More and application strategies to specific environmental or agricultural goals. When that alignment happens, biochar can be genuinely transformative.

Here are the most common misconceptions I see. “Biochar is just charcoalCharcoal is a black, brittle, and porous material produced by heating wood or other organic substances in a low-oxygen environment. It is primarily used as a fuel source for cooking and heating.   More; Biochar always improves crop yields; Biochar is automatically climate-positive.” From a policy standpoint, biochar is often treated as a straightforward carbon sequestration solution. The reality is more nuanced. “Biochar just locks contaminants in place.” In remediation discussions, some stakeholders assume biochar simply immobilizes pollutants and that’s the end of the story. “All biochars are interchangeable commodities”. But biochar is better thought of as a designable material for various types of applications. “Biochar works instantly”, however, biochar effects often evolve. Some benefits, especially microbial or nutrient-cycling effects emerge over months to years rather than immediately after application. “Biochar replaces regenerative practices”. Occasionally, I hear the framing that biochar alone can solve soil degradation or climate challenges. In reality, biochar works best when integrated with cover cropping, composting, reduced tillage, nutrient management and watershed-scale planning. It’s a tool and not a substitute for holistic land stewardship.

SP: How does feedstock selection influence the final properties of biochar, and what criteria should practitioners consider when choosing agricultural or industrial residues?

VD: Feedstock selection is one of the strongest determinants of biochar behavior. Even under identical pyrolysisPyrolysis is a thermochemical process that converts waste biomass into bio-char, bio-oil, and pyro-gas. It offers significant advantages in waste valorization, turning low-value materials into economically valuable resources. Its versatility allows for tailored products based on operational conditions, presenting itself as a cost-effective and efficient More conditions, switching from wood to manure or crop residues can fundamentally change chemistry, mineralogy, pHpH is a measure of how acidic or alkaline a substance is. A pH of 7 is neutral, while lower pH values indicate acidity and higher values indicate alkalinity. Biochars are normally alkaline and can influence soil pH, often increasing it, which can be beneficial More, nutrient content, and long-term stability. From a design standpoint, I think of feedstock as setting the chemical template that pyrolysis then modifies.

Some feedstocks influence biochar properties, including carbon structure and stability, aromaticity, nutrient content, surface chemistry and reactivity, and carbon sequestration or long-term structural soil amendments. Feedstock selection is not just about chemistry, it’s about system-level impact. I often frame it this way, feedstock defines the elemental and mineral foundation. Pyrolysis conditions define the structural refinement. The application context determines whether those properties are beneficial. Biochar should not be treated as a generic commodity. It’s better understood as a customizable carbon-mineral composite whose properties depend on the choice of feedstock. When practitioners align feedstock selection with clear performance goals and local sustainability constraints, biochar becomes a precision tool rather than a blunt amendment.

SP: In the Indian context, which locally available biomass resources hold the most promise for scalable biochar production, and why?

VD: In the Indian context, there’s a uniquely large and diverse set of biomass resources that could support scalable biochar production but not all are equal in quantity, composition or practical utility. Locally available biomass resources in India that hold strong potential. Crop residues are available in large volumes, are seasonally predictable, and are often untreated, making them relatively low-cost and easy to collect at scale. India produces hundreds of millions of tonnes of agricultural residues annually, with rice and wheat alone accounting for the majority. Sugarcane bagasse and press mud are concentrated, uniform, high-cellulosic feedstocks that can produce biochar with good porosityPorosity of biochar is a key factor in its effectiveness as a soil amendment and its ability to retain water and nutrients. Biochar’s porosity is influenced by feedstock type and pyrolysis temperature, and it plays a crucial role in microbial activity and overall soil health. Biochar More and relatively high fixed carbon, useful for soil or industrial applications. Forestry and wood processing residues often produce biochar that can have desirable stability for long-term soil carbon sequestration or industrial sorbent applications. Nut shells and agro-industrial waste can produce biochar with high fixed carbon content and strong adsorption properties, useful for remediation or as activated carbonActivated carbon is a form of carbon that has been processed to create a vast network of tiny pores, increasing its surface area significantly. This extensive surface area makes activated carbon exceptionally effective at trapping and holding impurities, like a molecular sponge. It is commonly More precursors. Even though volumes are smaller than those of staple crop residues, these feedstocks enhance feedstock diversity and create value from otherwise underused wastes.

India produces an enormous amount of agricultural biomass, frequently estimated at over 150 million tonnes (MT) of surplus residues each year, which could be converted to biochar rather than burned or wasted. Using these residues to produce biochar can reduce air pollution from stubble burning, improve soil organic matter, and sequester carbon in a stable, solid form. Collection and supply chains offer new income streams for farmers and communities, especially when tied to local pyrolysis units or cooperatives. In India, crop residues, sugarcane bagasse, wood and forestry wastes and certain agro-industrial by-products are among the most scalable and strategically useful feedstocks for biochar because of their sheer volume, current under-utilisation and compatibility with pyrolysis-based conversion systems.

SP: What are the key parameters in pyrolysis that most strongly affect biochar quality, and how can producers balance efficiency with product consistency?

VD: From a biochar production standpoint, key pyrolysis parameters that shape biochar quality include temperature; it is the most influential variable, as it largely defines the carbon structure. Higher temperatures increase stability and surface area but reduce yield and increase energy demand. If the goal is carbon sequestration or sorption of organics go for higher temperatures. For soil biological stimulation or nutrient retention moderate temperature is fine. Temperature is usually the single strongest determinant of biochar chemistry.

Heating rate, residence timeResidence time refers to the duration that the biomass is heated during the pyrolysis process. The residence time can influence the properties of the biochar produced.   More at peak temperature, atmosphere and oxygen exclusion, feedstock moisture content and particle size impacts on the biochar quality and consistency. In short, temperature defines structure, residence timeThis refers to the amount of time that the biomass is heated during the pyrolysis process. The residence time can influence the characteristics of the biochar, such as its porosity and surface area.   More defines completeness, moisture and oxygen define efficiency, feedstock defines the chemical foundation and standardization defines market reliability. When these parameters are in place, producers can achieve both energy efficiency and predictable biochar performance.

SP: What challenges do you see in scaling optimized pyrolysis processes from laboratory settings to commercial applications?

VD: Scaling pyrolysis from lab reactors to commercial systems is much harder than it first appears. In the lab, we control grams of uniform feedstock under tightly managed temperature ramps. At commercial scale, we’re dealing with tonnes of variable biomass, complex heat transfer dynamics, and logistics. The biggest challenges fall into heat and mass transfer limitations, feedstock variability, process control and reactor design, energy balance and economics, environmental and regulatory considerations and process optimization vs robustness. A process that works beautifully under controlled lab conditions may fail commercially unless it is engineered for inconsistency, economics, and real-world constraints from the beginning. Scaling pyrolysis isn’t just chemical engineering, it’s systems engineering.

SP: Parameters such as pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), fixed carbon, ashAsh is the non-combustible inorganic residue that remains after organic matter, like wood or biomass, is completely burned. It consists mainly of minerals and is different from biochar, which is produced through incomplete combustion.   Ash Ash is the residue that remains after the complete More content, and H:C ratio are widely used to assess biochar quality. Which indicators are most critical for different applications, and why?

VD: The parameters pH, CEC, fixed carbon, ash content, H:C ratio are all useful but their importance depends entirely on the intended function. There is no single “high-quality biochar.” There is only fit-for-purpose biochar. Here are the indicators: carbon sequestration and carbon credits; soil amendmentA soil amendment is any material added to the soil to enhance its physical or chemical properties, improving its suitability for plant growth. Biochar is considered a soil amendment as it can improve soil structure, water retention, nutrient availability, and microbial activity.   More; nutrient retention and fertility enhancement; organic contaminants; microbial stimulation and soil biology; and industrial uses across major application domains.

Each indicator reflects a different dimension of biochar. H:C ratio determines biochar’s structural stability, fixed carbon is for permanence, pH for chemical reactivity and liming, ash determines mineral functionality and CEC is determining nutrient buffering capacity. Interestingly, lower-temperature biochars often have higher initial CEC due to more functional groups even though they may be less carbon-stable. For nutrient buffering, nutrient retention, and fertility enhancement, CEC is often more important than fixed carbon or the H:C ratio. The H:C ratio is widely used as a proxy for aromaticity and carbon stability. For sequestration H:C ratio is arguably the single most critical indicator. In acidic soils, biochar can function as a liming agent. Higher ash content typically correlates with higher alkalinity and mineral nutrients however, excessive ash can introduce salts. For liming, pH and ash content dominate. In practice, high stability often means lower CEC; high ash improves pH but reduces fixed carbon; and low-temperature biochar boosts functionality but reduces permanence. So the most critical indicator is the one aligned with the intended function. Biochar quality is not absolute; it is contextual.

SP: How can standardized quality assessment improve trust and adoption of biochar in agriculture and environmental remediation?

VD: Standardized quality assessment is absolutely central to moving biochar from a niche, experimental amendment to a trusted agricultural and remediation input. Standardized testing frameworks, such as those developed by the International Biochar Initiative (IBI) and the European Biochar Certificate (EBC), help define minimum criteria for carbon content, H:C ratio, heavy metal limits, PAH thresholds, and basic agronomic properties. This creates baseline expectations and reduces risk for end users. Standardized characterization framework shifts biochar from being perceived as “partially combusted waste” to a certified soil input material. Carbon markets depend on measurable permanence. Without harmonized metrics, carbon credit claims become inconsistent and difficult to audit. In this context, standardization builds financial credibility, not just agronomic trust. Standardization may encourage industry professionalization. At the end, standardized quality assessment paved the way for moving toward function-based standards. In short, standardization doesn’t just improve quality control but it transforms biochar from an experimental amendment into a trustworthy environmental technology platform.

SP: Based on current evidence, how does biochar influence soil microbial activity, nutrient dynamics, and long-term soil health?

VD: Current evidence from field and controlled studies shows that biochar can influence soil microbial activity, nutrient dynamics and long-term soil health in multiple and interacting ways. Biochar’s porous structure and high surface area create microhabitats that shelter microorganisms from predation and environmental stress, supporting higher microbial abundance and activity. Improved soil aeration and moisture retention further support aerobic microbial processes. Biochar often enriches beneficial microbial groups involved in nutrient cycling (e.g., Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria) and can suppress some pathogenic fungi or bacteria through competitive exclusion. Effects on community structure (and diversity metrics like Shannon index) may be soil-specific and can persist or evolve. Rhizosphere microbial enhancement (closer to roots) is often stronger than in bulk soil, especially where biochar improves root growth and soil conditions.

Biochar increases the soil enzyme activity (e.g., urease, phosphatase, catalase), which reflect enhanced biochemical nutrient cycling processes. Biochar often improves microbial phosphatase activity, which helps release inorganic P and K from organic sources, complementing biochar’s sorption-desorption effects on phosphate availability. By creating more favorable conditions for beneficial microbes, biochar can help suppress soil pathogens and enhance resilience, especially when combined with other amendments, such as lime. In essence, biochar’s influence on soil microbial activity and nutrient dynamics arises from a blend of physical habitat effects, chemical soil modifications, and shifts in microbial communities.

SP: What realistic impacts can farmers expect from biochar use in terms of crop yield, and what factors determine its effectiveness across different soil types?

VD: This is the most practical and important question from a farmer’s perspective. The strongest and most consistent benefits occur in degraded, acidic, sandy, or nutrient-poor soils. In already fertile soils, yield effects are often modest or neutral. In degraded soils, farmers may see improved early crop vigor, increased nutrient use efficiencyNutrient use efficiency refers to how effectively plants can take up and utilize nutrients from the soil. Biochar can improve nutrient use efficiency by enhancing nutrient availability and retention in the soil.   More and yield improvement. This is because of pH correction (liming effect), improved nutrient retention, better root environment. In sandy or drought-prone soils, possible impacts may include improved water retention, better nutrient retention, and greater resilience under dry spells. In coarse-textured soils, biochar’s porosity and surface chemistry can meaningfully improve soil water holding capacityWater holding capacity is the amount of water that soil can retain. Biochar can significantly increase the water holding capacity of soil, improving its ability to withstand drought conditions and support plant growth.   More and reduce nutrient leachingLeaching is the process where nutrients are dissolved and carried away from the soil by water. This can lead to nutrient depletion and environmental pollution. Biochar can help reduce leaching by improving nutrient retention in the soil.   More.

In fertile, well-managed soils, benefits may be more closely related to long-term soil health than to immediate production gains. When biochar combined with fertilizers or compost, farmers commonly see improved fertilizer efficiency and reduced nitrogen losses. Biochar can act as a nutrient buffer rather than a primary nutrient source (unless manure-derived and ash-rich). Across all soil types, improvements in soil texture and pH (liming effect) are readily observed. Biochar improves nutrient efficiency more than it replaces fertilizer inputs. Biochar application rate and method impacts on all the above-mentioned soil improvement points. In challenging soils, it can meaningfully improve productivity and resilience. In high-performing systems, its main value may lie in long-term soil carbon sequestration, improved nutrient buffering, and reduced risk rather than dramatic yield increases. Its effectiveness is fundamentally contextual and that’s what makes proper matching between soil, biochar type, and management strategy so important.

SP: Biochar is increasingly explored for environmental remediation, including pollutant removal and carbon sequestration. Which applications show the most practical potential today?

VD: The greatest potential lies in leveraging biochar’s core strengths, such as sorption capacity, alkalinity, redox activity, and carbon stability. Soil-based carbon sequestration is currently the most commercially developed climate-focussed application, especially where locally available waste biomass is available. Heavy metal immobilization through biochar in contaminated soils is one of the most immediately practical remediation uses. For high-performance, municipal water treatment, activated carbon still dominates due to consistency and general familiarity.

Organic contaminant sorption in soils is especially promising in ecological restoration settings where full removal is impractical. Biochar is gaining serious attention in the steel industry not as a niche soil amendment, but as a renewable carbon source and partial coal substitute. Biochar use in the steel industry is primarily being explored as a renewable carbon substitute for fossil coal and coke.

SP: Looking ahead, what key research gaps must be addressed to make biochar a mainstream solution for sustainable agriculture and environmental management?

VD: Biochar has moved well beyond proof-of-concept. What’s holding it back from becoming truly mainstream isn’t a lack of promise; it’s unresolved questions around predictability, standardization, economics, and system-level impacts. For soil amendment, long-term multi-location trials, standardized experimental designs and mechanistic models linking biochar chemistry to microbial shifts to nutrient cycling to yield outcomes are important.

Microbial and biogeochemical mechanisms with modern molecular and omics studies linked to field outcomes are still limited. The central research challenge is integration across disciplines, material science, soil ecology, environmental engineering, climate science, and economics. Addressing these gaps will allow biochar to move from experimental use to a trusted, practical environmental management tool.

SP: The biochar plant operated by MITCON processes about 5 tonnes of feedstock per day. What key lessons have emerged from operating this plant at scale, and how can these insights support wider adoption of biochar systems?

VD: Although there isn’t yet an extensive published case‑study on the day‑to‑day operations of the MITCON’s biochar plant specifically, some clear lessons are already emerging from operating the 5 5-tonne-per-day facility at the Pune based MITCON’s Biochar Plant (MITCON Consultancy & Engineering Services, Pune, Maharashtra, India). However, the insights and the key lessons are highly relevant for scaling biochar systems more broadly in India and similar contexts. This achievement represents a significant step in MITCON’s dedication to sustainability, resource efficiency and innovation. The plant will enable the conversion of agricultural residues, organic municipal solid waste, and sewage sludge into biochar, along with other valuable by-products such as syngasSyngas, or synthesis gas, is a fuel gas mixture consisting primarily of hydrogen and carbon monoxide. It is produced during gasification and can be used as a fuel source or as a feedstock for producing other chemicals and fuels.   More (CO + H₂), wood vinegar, and Bio-bitumen (Tar). This initiative firmly establishes MITCON as a key contributor to India’s green energy and circular economy efforts.

The MITCON’s biochar plant is demonstrating technical feasibility at scale. Here, we show that turning diverse residues into biochar repeatedly is possible in a real‑world setting. The MITCON facility processes about 5 t/day of garden waste, bamboo, water hyacinth, coconut front and coconut shell at the moment. Further planned to include all types of agricultural biomass, municipal organic waste and sewage sludge and reliably produces biochar while capturing syngas and other valuable by‑products. Large‑fraction biomass conversion outside a lab environment is operationally achieved, the basic technology is validated, and this gives confidence to would‑be adopters. A biorefinery approach improves economic viability by valorising all product streams rather than focusing solely on solid carbon. Embedding the plant within a farming context and using outputs locally can help demonstrate practical agronomic benefits, which is essential for farmer adoption. MITCON’s biochar production links waste management, soil enhancement and carbon sequestration into a unified solution. Public announcements from MITCON explicitly highlight the plant’s role in advancing resource efficiency, sustainability, and the circular economy, which increases confidence in the business case. MITCON’s experience with this pilot is being used to engineer and market biochar systems to other clients.

MITCON’s insights support wider adoption, demonstrating that city‑scale biomass waste can be processed reliably into biochar and other products, reducing risk for new investors. By producing multiple co‑products, plants can diversify revenue and reduce dependence on a single product market. On‑farm use shows tangible benefits (e.g., soil enhancement), which were previously critical for farmer acceptance and adoption. Operational projects strengthen the case for including biochar in carbon markets, waste management policy, and agricultural soil health programs. Engineering experience lays the groundwork for standardized biochar plant designs, lowering barriers to replication. In summary, the Pune-based biochar plant installed and operated by MITCON has provided key operational, economic, and technical lessons that help de-risk commercial biochar deployment, showcase multi-stakeholder benefits, and inform scalable technology solutions, all of which are crucial for mainstreaming biochar systems in sustainable agriculture and environmental management in India.

SP: Through collaborations with various institutions, trials are being conducted using garden waste and bamboo feedstock and energy recovery through syngas generation. How do these efforts improve the sustainability and economic feasibility of biochar production for farmers and industry?

VD: Through R&D collaborations with various institutions, such as the College of Agriculture, Pune; Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri; and the Institute of Chemical, Mumbai, India, bring together expertise in agronomy, soil science, chemical engineering, and process optimization, enabling the development of integrated, scalable biochar systems. Using garden waste and bamboo feedstock with syngas energy recovery is turning biochar production into a multi-benefit, circular process that enhances both sustainability and economic feasibility for farmers and industry. Multiple feedstock options ensure a continuous supply, reduce dependency on a single source, and convert otherwise wasted biomass into a valuable product. Energy recovery through syngas reduces operational costs, improves overall energy efficiency and enhances the financial viability of biochar plants. The circular economy and waste valorization create multiple revenue streams and strengthen the business case for biochar adoption. The plant demonstrates a circular biochar system waste-to-resource conversion, carbon sequestration, soil improvement and energy generation all in one integrated model. Field validation, technical training and optimized plant designs make biochar a trusted and replicable solution for both farmers and industry.

SP: For readers interested in learning more about your research and ongoing work in biochar and environmental biotechnology, where can they follow your work or connect with you?

VD: For readers interested in exploring my research and ongoing work in biochar and environmental biotechnology, follow me through Google Scholar , Research Gate , Institutional Profiles and LinkedIn .