Performance optimization of organic solid waste and peat co-liquefaction mechanism for processing sustainable biocrude

Abstract

While wetlands have been extensively investigated for restoration and global warming concerns, less attention has been paid to utilizing them for clean energy generation. Another abundant renewable bio-resource currently polluting our environment is solid wastes, where 600 ̶ 700 million tons/y of waste is exposed in an unmanaged way. To mitigate these environmental impacts, this study explored the co-liquefaction mechanism of wetland peat with organic solid wastes (OSW) for lighter biocrude conversion. The performance of the process was optimized by feedstock ratio and temperature variation for a control heating time of 60 mins and feedstock to the solvent mixing ratio of 1:13. The optimum condition was obtained for OSW and peat (3:1) ratio at 320 °C that yielded 52% biocrude with a 60% lighter hydrocarbon fraction. Co-liquefaction improved biocrude energy content (37.4 MJ/kg) with higher energy recovery (77%). Superior hydrocarbons such as 48% ester (esterification), 27% hydrocarbon (decarboxylation), and 19% organic acids (deamination) were detected in the co-liquefaction sample along with a small amount of N and O heterocyclic compounds and amides. The economic assessment predicted that this waste-to-energy approach would potentially generate a revenue of $ 517 per ton of organic waste-peat mixture.