With a strong background in analytical chemistry, polymer engineering, and environmental systems, Chief Scientist Narghis Sarwari leads the development of next-generation technologies for PFAS and emerging contaminants at Abtech Industries. Her patent-pending innovations, including Abtech’s Smart Sponge® Quanta Technology, demonstrate how engineered biochar—precisely functionalized and integrated into a high-performance polymer matrix—can surpass the limitations of conventional adsorbents such as GAC and ion exchange. Her research consistently delivers exceptional PFAS removal across complex, real-world scenarios, including the highly mobile short-chain and precursor compounds that evade traditional media.

Beyond her scientific leadership, Narghis is a committed advocate for environmental justice and community-centered water solutions. She develops technologies that require minimal energy and infrastructure, ensuring accessibility for underserved regions, while actively mentoring early-career scientists to strengthen diversity in environmental research. As she leads Abtech toward the launch of its Applied Water Sciences and Solutions Facility in 2026, it was a pleasure for me to engage with her insights and explore how her work is shaping the future of biochar-enabled water treatment.

Shanthi Prabha: Can you tell us about your journey? What was that moment in your research on Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) where you looked past conventional adsorbents and realized that 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, a material with ancient roots, was the key to unlocking a truly modern, high-performance water treatment solution?

Narghis Sarwari: My journey began with a deep frustration of watching conventional technologies, such as Granular 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 (GAC) and ion exchange, fall short in real-world PFAS scenarios, especially at military sites where the chemistry is complex, and the stakes are high. The turning point came during a multi-year study on military-based water systems. I was testing a range of adsorbents, including biochar that had been heat-modified and functionalized. It consistently outperformed expectations. It wasn’t just about adsorption capacity; it was about tunability, sustainability, and integration potential. That’s when I realized biochar wasn’t just a relic of ancient agriculture, it was a platform for next-generation water treatment.

SP: Your profile notes you recognized the limitations especially of Granular Activated Carbon for removing problematic short-chain PFAS. From an analytical perspective, what specific failures or performance gaps did you observe in GAC that biochar was uniquely positioned to solve?

NS: GAC has a well-known Achilles’ heel in the water treatment industry: short-chain PFAS such as PFBA(Perfluorobutanoic Acid) and PFBS(Perfluorobutane Sulfonate). These compounds are highly mobile, less hydrophobic, and often evade capture by traditional carbon beds. In our field evaluations, GAC exhibited early breakthrough and inconsistent removal performance, particularly under high-flow conditions and variable 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 — both common in real-world applications. In contrast, biochar offered a more adaptable surface chemistry. By precisely controlling 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 parameters and applying targeted post-treatments, we enhanced electrostatic interactions and pore accessibility. This allowed us to more effectively capture not only short-chain PFAS but also precursor compounds that typically slip through conventional media.

SP: The most intriguing part of your work is that you don’t just use biochar as a standalone filter. You describe it as an engineered substrate integrated into your Smart Sponge® Technology. Can you break down the science of this composite? How does marrying a polymer sponge with biochar unlock capabilities that neither material has on its own?

NS: Absolutely. Think of the polymer design as the structural substrate; it provides mechanical integrity, hydrodynamic control, and a high surface area for water contact. The biochar, in contrast, serves as the active layer, engineered for the selective adsorption of PFAS compounds. When we embed functionalized biochar into our matrix, we create a hybrid material that is both reactive and resilient. The engineered design prevents compaction and hydraulic channeling, which are common issues in traditional packed beds, while the biochar performs the critical task of contaminant adsorption. Together, they form a modular, flow-through system that is easy to deploy, scalable, and highly effective. It’s a true synergy of form and function, where each component enhances the performance of the other.

SP: As our readers are aware, ‘biochar’ is a broad category. 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 temperature, and post-processing all drastically change its surface chemistry. Are you sourcing specific biochars and then functionalizing them, or are you engineering your own char to optimize its properties for integration with your polymer?

NS: We engineer our media starting with a specific, high-quality source of biochar as the feedstock. From there, we apply our patented modification process to enhance its adsorption capabilities. This treatment significantly enhances surface functionality by increasing active sites, optimizing pore structure, and adjusting surface charge. The result is a high-performance, functionalized char that integrates seamlessly with our polymer matrix. By overseeing the process from start to finish, we have developed a solution that is unlike anything currently available on the market. This truly is a game-changer for the industry, and we designed it that way.

SP: You mention your system enhances contact efficiency and allows for modular deployment. This sounds like a direct solution to major engineering hurdles, such as hydraulic channeling, pore blockage, and pressure drop, in traditional packed-bed reactors. From a fluid dynamics standpoint, how does your composite maintain its performance in high-flow, diffuse systems, such as stormwater drains?

NS: Exactly. Traditional packed beds suffer from uneven flow distribution, resulting in channeling and underutilization of the media. Our composite, by contrast, is open-cell and compressible, allowing water to flow uniformly through the matrix. The embedded biochar is distributed throughout the sponge, ensuring that every droplet of water interacts with active sites. This design minimizes pressure drop, resists clogging, and performs exceptionally well in high-flow, low-residence-time environments, such as stormwater systems.

SP: You’re focused on military sites, which means you’re not just treating for PFOA; you’re dealing with the entire “AFFF soup”. How does your biochar-sponge composite perform across that full spectrum? Are you seeing good removal of the highly mobile short chains and precursors that often bleed through other carbon media?

NS: Yes and that’s one of the most exciting outcomes of our work. In pilot studies using AFFF-contaminated water from Air Force Base sites, we’ve achieved up to 99.4% removal across a broad PFAS spectrum, including highly mobile short-chain compounds and precursors. The success lies in our composite’s dual-mode capture mechanism: physical adsorption through the porous sponge matrix and chemical affinity via the functionalized biochar. This synergy allows us to effectively target not only legacy compounds like PFOA and PFOS, but also the newer, more elusive species that often evade traditional carbon-based media.

SP: Your profile describes the solution as reusable and scalable. With PFAS, reusable is a compelling word. What does that mean in practice? Can you regenerate the biochar within the sponge matrix, or is this about efficiently containing the saturated media for a final destruction step?

NS: We are currently pursuing patent protection for our reusability approach, so we’re not disclosing further details at this time. However, what we can share is that our end-of-life strategy is designed with sustainability and efficiency in mind. The saturated media generates no concentrated liquid waste, and due to its hydrophobic design, it retains minimal residual water, significantly reducing the burden of secondary waste handling. Additionally, the composite has a high BTU value, making it well-suited for thermal destruction technologies. It combusts cleanly and efficiently, enabling effective PFAS destruction without the complications typically associated with traditional carbon-based waste streams.

SP: You have an evident passion for environmental justice and developing technologies for underserved communities. How do you balance the R&D of an advanced, high-tech composite material with the absolute need for it to be affordable, scalable, and maintainable for those communities who need it most?

NS: That balance is at the heart of my mission. We design with constraints in mind – low energy, minimal infrastructure, and ease of use. Our modular units don’t require pumps or electricity, and we use waste-derived biochar to keep costs low. We also partner with local organizations to co-develop deployment strategies, ensuring that the technology is not just dropped in, but integrated into the community’s water management practices. Affordability and accessibility are engineered into the solution from day one.

SP: As a first-generation woman in science now leading R&D as a Chief Scientist, you’re a powerful example. Looking ahead, what do you see as the next major innovation for biochar in water treatment, and what’s your top piece of advice for the young scientists you’re mentoring?

NS: The next frontier is multifunctional biochar materials that do more than just adsorption of pollutants. To those I mentor, I always say: stay curious, stay grounded, and don’t hesitate to question the norm. Some of the most transformative innovations begin with a single, bold question, especially the ones no one else is asking.

SP: Where can the readers of Biochar Today track your works, research, and insights? 

NS: You can follow our work through Abtech Industries’ website and by signing up for our company newsletter, where we regularly share updates on pilot projects, publications, and new deployments.

For those interested in collaboration or field testing, I’m always open to connecting. We’re especially excited to announce that our state-of-the-art Applied Water Sciences and Solutions facility is expected to be fully operational by Q1 2026, which is a major step forward in accelerating innovation and validating solutions in real-world conditions.