Luca Amadeo, chiara Mantovani – SAFIC ALCAN ITALIA
Francesco Barbagli – BIO-ESPERIA
Could a black pigment help to reduce CO₂ in the atmosphere? The answer is yes, and in this article we reveal the groundbreaking potential of Bio Based Char (BBC).
The growing focus on sustainability and the reduction of industrial environmental impact is driving more and more companies and research centers to seek alternatives to traditional materials with a high carbon footprint. Among these, carbon black, widely used as a black pigment and functional filler in numerous industrial sectors, poses a significant challenge. Derived mainly from the incomplete combustion of fossil oil fractions, carbon black is associated with critical issues related to both CO₂ emissions and raw material supply chains.
Today, the development of black pigments from renewable sources or circular processes is emerging as one of the most promising pathways for the industry. Potential applications range from paints and coatings to rubber, plastics, and resin-based products, where black pigment plays both an aesthetic and functional role.
CARBON BLACK
Carbon black is primarily produced by the partial combustion of heavy petroleum fractions or natural gas in high-temperature reactors (1,200° – 1,800° C).
Under these conditions, fine particles of elemental carbon are formed, then cooled and collected.
From an environmental perspective, the process is energy-intensive and highly emissive: for every ton of carbon black produced, an estimated 4–6 tons of CO₂ are released into the atmosphere, with even higher values for special low-yield grades. This clearly highlights the urgency of developing sustainable alternatives or lower-carbon processes.
BBC: WHAT IT IS AND HOW IT IS PRODUCED
Bio Based Char (BBC) was developed in Italy by Bio-Esperia. It is a 100% natural, plant-based pigment made of pure carbon, free from pollutants such as heavy metals or hydrocarbons. It has already been tested in the production of paints, color pastes, rubber compounds, and resin-based products (including hobby materials, jewelry, and more).
BBC is produced from biomass obtained from secondary cuts of spontaneously regenerating forests (coppice woodland), managed using naturalistic silviculture techniques. Essentially, cutting is carried out every 20 years, with precise criteria to spare younger trees. Studies show that this method stimulates the forest to absorb more carbon dioxide compared to unmanaged woodland: specifically, CO₂ absorption in the seven years following cutting exceeds that of the final seven years in the life of older trees.
This traceable biomass is fed into a high-temperature redox reactor, generating three products:
BBC: A TRULY SUSTAINABLE PRODUCT
From 1,000 kg of biomass, the process yields approximately 250 kg of BBC, 500 kg of plant extracts, 1 MW of electricity, and 1 MW of thermal energy.
Considering that renewable energy production allows for up to 100% of the CO₂ used in the plants’ production cycles to be released into the atmosphere, Bio-Esperia technology emits only 26% of the CO₂ absorbed by the biomass before harvesting, permanently fixing the remaining 74% in the end products. The CO₂ fraction bound in BBC remains sequestered indefinitely.
In short, using BBC actively removes CO₂ from the atmosphere. Furthermore, its production is fully scalable at an industrial level. In Italy alone, with 9 million hectares of expanding forest area, the potential is estimated at 9–11 million tons of BBC per year.
BBC: BENEFIT AND APPLICATIONS
BBC is capable of removing approximately 2.5–3.0 tons of CO₂ from the environment for every ton of pigment used. It can be applied in the production of paints, but not only. It is also suitable for resin-based products, as well as rubber and plastic compounds.
Although its performance and opacity are lower than those of carbon black, BBC offers consistent colorimetric stability, enabling its use on an industrial scale. In the paint industry, particularly in construction coatings, black pigment is widely used for producing unsaturated colors: in this case, BBC can serve as the perfect alternative to conventional grades of carbon black available on the market.
Bio-Esperia currently produces three BBC grades:
The coarser grades, which are more cost-competitive, can be grinded using existing equipment at paint manufacturers’ facilities, while the finest grade can be tested in simple dispersion.
BBC is non-hazardous and currently undergoing registration under the REACH regulation.
SAFIC ALCAN IS THE EXCLUSIVE DISTRIBUTOR OF BIOESPERIA PRODUCTS IN ITALY
Bio-Esperia is an innovative Italian company that develops and produces carbon derivatives and plant extracts for agriculture, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and animal nutrition. Its mission is to valorize biomass to generate products and energy with a positive environmental impact.
The company promotes a sustainable industrial model, as its raw materials are constantly renewed by sequestering CO₂ from the atmosphere and are widely available, well beyond the amounts needed for its by-products.
Safic Alcan is a Paris-based French distributor of specialty chemicals. The company develops and supplies a broad range of polymers, materials and additives for rubber, coatings, adhesives, thermoplastics, polyurethanes, lubricants, detergents, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and nutraceuticals. With a network of 42 strategically located offices across Europe, the Middle East, North America, Asia, and South Africa, the company represents cutting edge producers worldwide. Its highly specialized sales engineers provide dedicated technical expertise and high performance solutions, building long-term partnerships with most suppliers and customers. The group employs 800 people worldwide and generated revenues of €905 million in 2024.
