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Abstract
Hydrothermal technology is an emerging carbon-neutral method that transforms wet biomass into valuable products without requiring energy-intensive drying. This review explores microwave-mediated hydrothermal carbonization (MWHTC) as an effective hydrothermal technique for converting food waste into conversion-ready feedstocks. MWHTC processes wet biomass into hydrochar through a low-temperature thermochemical conversion, bypassing the need for pre-drying. Hydrochar, a carbon-rich solid fuel, combusts efficiently with minimal environmental impact. A key challenge in conventional hydrothermal carbonization is managing process water, which is rich in organics and difficult to treat. MWHTC addresses this by recirculating the process water, enhancing efficiency. During MWHTC, water serves as a heat transfer medium, while microwave irradiation induces rapid dipole rotation, generating heat within the waste and accelerating reactions. Key reactions in MWHTC include dehydration, decarboxylation, hydrolysis, polymerization, recondensation, aromatization, and Maillard reactions. The initial steps—hydrolysis, dehydration, and decarboxylation—break down ester and ether bonds, releasing H and O as H2O and CO2, which increases the carbon content and heating value of the biomass. Subsequent reactions such as polymerization, recondensation, aromatization, and Maillard reactions enhance the formation of high molecular weight species in the hydrochar, optimizing its properties as a fuel.
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