Co-hydrothermal carbonization of corn stover and food waste: Characterization of hydrochar, synergistic effects, and combustion characteristic analysis

Abstract

Hydrochar was prepared via the co-hydrothermal carbonization (Co-HTC) method using corn stover (CS) and food waste (FW) as materials, and the influences of the synergistic effect of Co-HTC on fuel performances and combustion behavior were analyzed. Characterization of hydrochar was conducted using elemental analysis, industrial analysis, SEM, BET, XRD, and FTIR. The outcomes indicated that the higher heating values (HHVs) of hydrochar increased, the atomic ratios of H/C and O/C decreased, the fuel ratios ranged from 0.33 to 0.57, and the average pore diameter decreased when the FW ratio was increased. The synergistic effect of Co-HTC of CS and FW improved hydrochar yield, energy yield, organics retention, and C capture efficiency. Thermogravimetric and kinetic analysis showed that Co-HTC improves the combustion characteristics of hydrochar. Thus, production of hydrochar via Co-HTC of CS and FW provides some guidance for the resourcing and reducing solid organic waste, and offers a promising direction for renewable energy production.