Abstract
This study provides fundamental insight and offers a promising catalytic hydrothermal method to harness cranberry pomace as a potential bioenergy and/or hydrochar source. The physical and chemical properties of Canadian cranberry pomace, supplied by Fruit d’Or Inc., were examined and the optimum operational conditions, in terms of biocrude yield, were obtained by the I-optimal matrix of Design Expert 11. Afterward, cranberry pomace hydrochar (CPH) and zeolite were separately introduced to the hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) process to investigate the benefits and disadvantages associated with their catalytic activity. CPH was found to be a better host than zeolite to accommodate cellulosic sugars and showed great catalytic performance in producing hydrocarbons. However, high amounts of corrosive amino and aliphatic acids hinder the practical application of CPH as a catalyst. Alternatively, zeolite, as a commercial high surface area catalyst, had a higher activity for deoxygenation of compounds containing carbonyl, carboxyl, and hydroxyl groups than CPH and resulted in higher selectivity of phenols. Due to the low hydrothermal structural stability, coke formation, and narrow pore size distribution, further activations and modifications are needed to improve the catalytic behavior of zeolite. Our results suggest that a composite composed of CPH and zeolite can resolve the abovementioned limitations and help with the development and commercialization of advanced biofuels from cranberry pomace.
Highlights
Fruit processing industries in the world produce approximately 38.1 million metric tonnes (Mt) of fruit waste
Our results suggest that a composite composed of cranberry pomace hydrochar (CPH) and zeolite can resolve the abovementioned limitations and help with the development and commercialization of advanced biofuels from cranberry pomace
This study provides considerable insight into the necessity of producing a composite made from cranberry pomace hydrochar (CPH)
Summary
Fruit processing industries in the world produce approximately 38.1 million metric tonnes (Mt) of fruit waste. This remarkable amount of waste is gaining significant interest as a sustainable and second-generation biofuel source [1]. As a major by-product of juice processing, is normally directly discarded or, in the best-case scenario, used as animal feed or composted along with the other municipal organic wastes [2]. These disposal methods have been found to be a threat to the environment and human health. Fruit wastes have a moisture content of approximately 70%
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