Hydrothermal Carbonization Process Research Articles

Influence of Hydrothermal Carbonization (HTC) Temperature on Hydrochar and Process Liquid for Poultry, Swine, and Dairy Manure

Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) is a promising technology for wet manure treatment by converting animal manure into valuable fuels, materials, and chemicals. Among other HTC process parameters, the temperature influences HTC products the most. As various animal manures have different compositions, it is not certain how the HTC temperature influences the hydrochar and HTC process liquid. To evaluate the temperature’s effect on HTC, three different manures (poultry, swine, and dairy) were hydrothermally carbonized at three different temperatures (180, 220, and 260 °C), and solid and liquid products were characterized for their morphology, elemental compositions, and ions. The carbon contents of the hydrochar reached as high as 38.98 ± 0.36% and 40.05 ± 0.57% for poultry and swine manure, respectively, when these manures were treated at 260 °C. Ammonium showed an around 30% increase in poultry manure hydrochar with the increase in the HTC temperature. In contrast, in swine manure, it decreased by around 80%, and in dairy manure, the HTC temperature did not have any remarkable effect on the ammonium content. The process liquids from HTC of dairy manure at 220 °C showed the most balanced distribution of different ions, with 4970 ± 673 ppm of sodium, 4354 ± 437 ppm of ammonium, 2766 ± 417 ppm of potassium, 978 ± 82 ppm of magnesium, 953 ± 143 ppm of calcium, 3607 ± 16 ppm of chloride, and 39 ± 7 ppm of phosphate. These results emphasize the manure-specific effects of the HTC temperature on both solid and liquid products, indicating the need for optimized strategies to enhance HTC processes for various types of animal manures.

The Effect of Residence Time during the Hydrothermal Carbonization Process of Sewage Sludge on the Properties of Hydrochar

The optimal process conditions concerning the hydrothermal carbonization of digested sewage sludge are crucial to the economically effective technology needed to produce a solid product, hydrochar, for energy purposes. Accordingly, different residence times, 0.5 h, 1 h and 2 h, were investigated in order to understand the effect of residence time on the process. Furthermore, the physical and chemical properties of hydrochar were investigated and compared to the raw material. For these reasons, analyses describing fuel properties were performed, including ultimate and proximate analyses, HHV, and TGA analysis. The latter method was employed to study the combustion process of solid samples. In addition, the oxide content of different elements within the ash of solid samples was determined using the XRF method to calculate indices related to operational problems during the combustion process. The results confirmed that time did not matter significantly and the physical and chemical properties of hydrochar were very similar to each other. However, the contact angle for 2 h of residence time confirmed that a longer processing time resulted in a more hydrophobic character of hydrochar and enabled more effective dewaterability of hydrothermal slurry. It was also noted that the hydrothermal carbonization process affected the sewage sludge in a positive way. In brief, the results confirmed that the hydrochar was a brittle, moderately hydrophilic, solid carbon-containing product that provided a different combustion performance than the raw sewage sludge.

Template Evolution Induced Relay Self-Assembly for Mesoporous Carbonaceous Materials via Hydrothermal Carbonization.

Constructing carbonaceous materials with versatile surface structures still remains a great challenge due to limited self-assembly methods, especially at high temperatures. This study presents an innovative template evolution induced relay self-assembly (TEIRSA) for the fabrication of large polyoxometalate (POM)-mixed carbonaceous nanosheets featuring surface mesoporous structures through hydrothermal carbonization (HTC). The method employs POM and acetone as additives, cleverly modulating the Ostwald ripening-like process of P123-based micelles, effectively addressing the instability challenges inherent in traditional soft-template methods, especially within the demanding carbohydrate HTC process. Additionally, this method allows for the independent regulation of surface architectures through the selection of organic additives. The resulting nanosheets exhibit diverse surface morphologies, including surface spherical mesopores, 1D open channels, and smooth surfaces. Their unexpectedly versatile properties have swiftly garnered recognition, showing potential in the application of lithium-sulfur batteries.

Towards a high-quality fertilizer based on algae residues treated via hydrothermal carbonization. Trends on how process parameters influence inorganics

The use of beach-cast macroalgae as a fertilizer (F) or soil amendment (SA) is coming back into focus, due to its highly efficient transformation of CO2, nutrients, salts and minerals from its aqueous surroundings into biomass. This research studied the hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) of Fucus vesiculosus macroalgae to hydrochar and evaluated its feasibility for use in soil applications. F. vesiculosus was submitted to HTC following a full factorial design of experiments with three HTC process parameters varied to assess their impact on the hydrochars: temperature (T: 160, 190, 220 °C), solid content (%So: 20, 35%), and process water recirculation (PWrec: yes and no). In general, F. vesiculosus and its hydrochars were rich in nutrients, but also contained regulated heavy metals. Investigation of the partitioning behavior of inorganic elements between the hydrochars and process water showed that heavy metals like Cr, Pb, Co and Cu tended to accumulate in the hydrochar, unaffected by HTC conditions. Nutrients such as P, N, B, and Mn were primarily found in the hydrochar and could be partially influenced to transfer to process water by changing %So and T. The correlation between the mass fractions of 22 elements in the hydrochar and HTC process parameters was studied. T was the most influential parameter, showing a significant positive correlation for eleven elements. %So and PWrec showed inconsistent effects on different elements. When process water was recirculated, some elements decreased (Ca, Cd, Fe) while others increased (K, Na, B, N) in the hydrochar. Assessment against various regulations and standards for F and SA revealed that F. vesiculosus complied with Cd limit values for most rules including the EURF and B, and was regulated only in the RAL for SA, over the limit value. In contrast, the limit value of Cd for both F and SA applications was surpassed in the 13 hydrochars. The contents of N, P, K, S, and Na in the feedstock and hydrochars complied with European F and SA rules, while they were too high for German rules on SA. The other limits for F rules were achieved (under certain HTC process parameters) except for P (lower than the requirements in F for F. vesiculosus and its hydrochars).Graphical

The effect of an acidic environment during the hydrothermal carbonization of sewage sludge on solid and liquid products: The fate of heavy metals, phosphorus and other compounds

The pH of sewage sludge is a crucial factor during the hydrothermal carbonization process that influences the characteristics of the resulting products and migration of certain compounds from the solid to liquid phase. Accordingly, this work is focused on examining the pH impact during the HTC process, in particular, pH equals 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 on the individual hydrothermally carbonized products generated at 200 °C and 2 h residence time. For this reason, the chemical and physical indicators describing the post-processing liquid and hydrochar were determined. For instance, it was observed that the phosphorus content detected in the liquid, derived at pH2, rose significantly by 80%. Furthermore, decreasing the pH of sewage sludge had a significant impact on the ash content and the calorific value of the hydrochar. Additionally, changes in the specific surface area of hydrochar were noticed: pH = 5 and pH = 6 showed an increase of 20–30%, while for lower pH values a decrease of c.a. 26% was achieved. The distribution of heavy metals between the obtained fractions in the HTC process (solid and liquid) indicated that 92 to almost 100% of the tested heavy metals were transferred to the hydrochar. A significant effect of pH on the distribution between these fractions was observed only for Zn and Ni. For instance, for pH = 2, Zn and Ni in post-processing liquid were 34% and 29%, respectively. In addition, the sequential extraction of heavy metals from hydrochar was also performed in order to identify mobile and non-mobile phases. It was noticed that the acidic environment favours a higher amount of mobile heavy metals in hydrochar. The largest effect was observed for Cd, Pb, Cr and Cu, for which, at pH = 2, their respective amounts in the mobile fraction were 2.7; 3.6; 1.8; 6.2 times higher, compared to the hydrochar without pH correction.

Ionic liquid-catalyzed hydrothermal carbonization of sewage sludge: Effect of residence time and liquid phase circulation on hydrochar characteristic

The ionic liquid (IL, [DMAPA]HSO4) was used to catalyze hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) of sewage sludge (SSL), the study discussed how residence time and liquid-phase circulation influence the characteristics of the hydrochar. The decarboxylation process in IL-catalyzed HTC led to lower hydrochar yield but higher higher heating value (HHV). And the secondary hydrochar formation promoted by IL favored the system for high energy feedback (EF), but iron was involved in the secondary hydrochar formation. At the optimum hydrothermal time (90 min), the EF reached 124% and the removal efficiencies of Fe, Mg, Mn, and Zn were 66%, 73%, 96%, and 90%, respectively. Functional groups on organic acids (COO-), amides (C=O), and polysaccharides (C-O-C) in the SSL were sequentially removed during the IL-catalyzed HTC process, while cross-linking and graphitization occurred, resulting in higher ignition temperatures and lower metal contents. However, multiple cycles of the liquid phase resulted in a decrease in the catalytic properties of IL, resulting in low EF hydrochar with high metal content and functional group intensity. Catalytic graphitization is the key to obtaining hydrochar with high HHV and low metal content. Therefore, future development of catalysts is needed to facilitate the dehydration, decarboxylation and graphitization process of HTC.

Hydrochar and Value-Added Chemical Production Through Hydrothermal Carbonisation of Woody Biomass

This study investigates the optimisation of hydrothermal carbonisation (HTC) parameters for transforming Whitewood biomass into hydrochar, focusing on bioenergy production and valuable chemical extraction as by-products. The optimal carbonisation was achieved at a process temperature of 240 -260 °C, which optimised the higher heating value of the hydrochar to 27-30 kJ/g and ensured a structural integrity similar to lignite coal. Increasing the temperature beyond 260 °C did not significantly enhance the energy content or quality of the hydrochar, establishing 260 °C as the practical upper limit for the HTC process. Residence times between 30 to 60 min were found to have minimal impact on the yield and quality of hydrochar, suggesting significant operational flexibility and the potential to double throughput without increasing energy consumption. The study also revealed that the process water by-product is rich in furan compounds, particularly furfural and hydroxymethyl furfural, with their highest concentration (125 mg/g of feedstock) occurring at 220 °C. The implementation of these findings could facilitate the development of a large-scale HTC facility, significantly reducing reliance on fossil fuels and enhancing economic viability by producing high-energy-density biofuels and high-value chemical by-products.

Investigation of Hydrothermal Carbonization of Exhausted Chestnut from Tannin Extraction: Impact of Process Water Recirculation for Sustainable Fuel Production

This study explores the hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) process applied to the exhausted chestnut produced by the tannin extraction industry, utilizing process water recirculation to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of the conversion process. Tannin extraction from wood typically involves hot water treatment, leaving behind residual wood biomass known as exhausted wood. These by-products maintain their renewable properties because they have only been exposed to hot water under a high pressure, which is unlikely to cause major alterations in their structural components. Hydrothermal treatment was carried out at temperatures of 220 °C and 270 °C for 1 h, with process water being recirculated four times. This investigation focused on analyzing the effects of recirculation on the yield and fuel properties of hydrochar, as well as characterizing the combustion behavior of the obtained hydrochar. The results indicated that recirculation of process water led to improvements in both the mass and energy yields of hydrochar. The mass yield of the hydrochar samples increased by 5–6%, and the ERE of the hydrochar samples increased by 5–8% compared to the HTC reference sample. However, alterations in the combustion characteristics were observed, including decreases in ignition temperature and combustion reactivity. The results indicate that, with PW recirculations, the combustion index decreased by about 14% and 18% for 220 °C and 270 °C, respectively. Overall, this research demonstrates the potential of utilizing HTC on chestnut tannin residue with process water recirculation to produce stable solid fuel and provides insights into the combustion behavior of the resulting hydrochar.

Effects of biogas slurry on hydrothermal carbonization of digestate: Synergistic valorization of hydrochars and aqueous phase

In this study, livestock manure digestate (LMD) was used as feedstock for hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) at different temperature (180–260 °C) and residence time (0–4 h). Nutrient flow and distribution during the HTC process were evaluated by comparing the effects of livestock manure biogas slurry (LBS) and ultrapure water (UW) to determine the optimal reaction conditions for the synergistic production and application of hydrochars (HC) and aqueous phases (AP). Compared with UW, the HC yields derived from LBS as solvent were increased by 27.05–38.24% under the same conditions. The C content, high heating value (HHV), and energy densification of HC obtained from LMD and UW were higher than those obtained from LMD and LBS, and the ash content was lower. While, LBS circumstance improved the porosity, N content and some trace elements e.g. Ca, Fe and Mg in HC that showed excellent fertility potential. In addition, the recovery rate of K, TOC, NH4+-N, and TN concentrations in AP were significantly higher in the LBS circumstance than in UW. The results show that the addition of UW is more favorable for fuel generation, and the HC obtained from LMD and UW at 220 °C has the potential to be used as a fuel. Whereas, the addition of LBS enhanced the potential of HC and AP for agricultural applications simultaneously. It is recommended to use HC and AP obtained from LMD and LBS at 240 °C for using as fertilizer.

Treatment of swine manure by hydrothermal carbonization: The influential effect and preliminary mechanism of surfactants

Treatment of swine manure by hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) with the aid of different surfactants was first explored in this study. PEG 400 (polyethylene glycol 400) and Tween 80 facilitated the formation of bio-oil. SLS (sodium lignosulfonate) and SDS (sodium dodecyl sulfate) promoted the formation of water-soluble matters/gases. Span 80 enhanced the formation of hydrochar, which resulted in a 50.19 % mass yield, 92.39 % energy yield, and a caloric value of 28.68 MJ/kg. The hydrochar obtained with Span 80 presented a similar combustion performance to raw swine manure and the best pyrolysis performance. The use of Span 80 promoted the transfer of degradation products to hydrochar, especially hydrophobic ester and ketone compounds. Notedly, Span 80 suppressed the synthesis of PAHs during the HTC process, which was reduced to 0.92 mg/kg. Furthermore, the hydrochar produced with Span 80 contained lower contents of heavy metals. On the whole, Span 80 has shown great potential in enhancing the HTC of swine manure. The acting mechanisms of surfactants in the HTC of swine manure included adsorption, dispersion, and electrostatics repulsion.

Catalyst-Enhancing Hydrothermal Carbonization of Biomass for Hydrochar and Liquid Fuel Production-A Review.

The research impact of catalysts on the hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) process remains an ongoing debate, especially regarding the quest to enhance biomass conversion into fuels and chemicals, which requires diverse catalysts to optimize bio-oil utilization. Comprehensive insights and standardized analytical methodologies are crucial for understanding HTC's potential benefits in terms of biomass conversion stages. This review seeks to understand how catalysts enhance the HTC of biomass for liquid fuel and hydrochar production, drawing from the following key sections: (a) catalyst types applied in HTC processes; (b) biochar functionality as a potential catalyst; (c) catalysts increasing the success of HTC process; and (d) catalyst's effect on the morphological and textural character of hydrochar. The performance of activated carbon would greatly increase via catalyst action, which would progress the degree of carbonization and surface modification, alongside key heteroatoms. As catalytic HTC technology advances, producing carbon materials for thermochemical activities will become more cost-effective, considering the ever-growing demands for high-performance thermochemical technologies.

Assessing bioenergy prospects of algal biomass and yard waste using an integrated hydrothermal carbonization and pyrolysis (HTC–PY): A detailed emission–to–ash characterization via diverse hyphenated analytical techniques and modelling strategies

Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) presents a promising method for converting carbonaceous waste into renewable fuels, facilitating energy recovery. This study focuses on the HTC pretreatment of microalgae (Chlorella sorokiniana) and yard waste, examining their physicochemical structural changes, component migration, and potential for valorization via integrated HTC and pyrolysis processes. HTC notably enhances the carbon content while reducing oxygen and nitrogen levels in these feedstocks, producing a clean solid fuel with high energy density. The study investigates the pyrolytic behavior of hydrochars and their blends using different analytical techniques, kinetic modeling, and fixed–bed reactor experiments. The blends with 90% and 70% of microalgae hydrochar (CSH) exhibited the most significant synergistic effects during co–pyrolysis, evident in its devolatilization behaviors and reduced activation energies. Integrating artificial neural networks and response surface methodology models facilitated optimization of pyrolysis parameters and accurate prediction of bio–oil, biochar, and gas yields. The analytical techniques enabled characterization of pyrolysis products, revealing notable changes in bio–oil and biochar compositions, suggesting potential enhancements. The study comprehensively evaluates the HTC–pyrolysis approach’s potential for converting microalgae and lignocellulosic biomass into eco–friendly biofuels for industrial applications.

Hydrothermal carbonization of invasive plant biomass as a tool for its safe utilization and production of artificial humic substances

Abstract Invasive plants may cause significant environmental risks by affecting biological diversity, ecosystem services, agriculture, and forestry. Safe utilization of invasive plant biomass by obtaining new outcome products useful for bioeconomics is a challenging but promising solution. Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) presents a sustainable and cost-effective approach to transforming invasive plant biomass into new products while simultaneously supporting carbon capture aims. This study utilized invasive plants such as lupine [Lupinus polyphyllus Lindl.], Sosnowsky’s hogweed [Heracleum sosnowskyi Manden.], and Japanese knotweed [Polygonum cuspidatum Siebold & Zucc.] as biomass sources for HTC to produce artificial humic substances (AHS). The greatest impact on the yield of AHS (maximum gained yield 62%) has the duration of the HTC process (up to 6 h) and temperature of the treatment (from 160 up to 250 °C), as well as the catalyst used (an alkaline medium is preferable). During the HTC treatment, significant changes in the invasive plant biomass composition occur as indicated by the removal of labile components of organic matter. Obtained AHS are essentially similar to natural humic matter and have biostimulatory properties; thus, they can find application in agriculture and other areas of bioeconomics.

Modification and activation of hydrochar obtained by the hydrothermal carbonisation process of invasive plant biomass

Invasive plants produce significant amounts of biomass and their spreading are one of the major factors influencing biodiversity. This article demonstrates the possibilities of hydrothermal carbonisation (HTC) for the treatment of invasive Sosnowsky's hogweed biomass to achieve its safe utilisation simultaneously producing new sorbent materials. Two different N-doping methods of hydrochar (HC) including impregnation and HTC approaches, followed by activation, and three oxidation approaches like cold KOH activation, Fenton's oxidation and UV treatment have been evaluated to obtain the perspective material for carbon capture and environmental technologies. The most optimal oxidation approach to obtain adsorbent for environmental technologies was HCs cold activation with KOH, which provides high sorption capacities concerning metallic ions and organic substances (Cu 18 mg/g, and methylene blue 146 mg/g). Evaluating various N-doping approaches, the highest CO2 adsorption capacity was obtained for impregnated samples, that were thermally activated using KOH, reaching up to 3.9 mmol/g.

Enhancing hydrochar production and mitigating heavy metal risks in sewage sludge: The role of ultrasonic pretreatment in hydrothermal carbonization

Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) is a potentially valuable technology for sewage sludge treatment and resource utilization. This study proposes a combined process of ultrasonic pretreatment and HTC to improve the yield and properties of hydrochar derived from sewage sludge (SS). SS was ultrasonically pretreated at different sound energy densities (0.6 – 1.4 W/mL) and pretreatment times (5 – 30 min), and then HTC conducted for 4 h in an autoclave. Ultrasonic pretreatment markedly enhanced the apparent structure and particle size of the feedstock, thereby improving the hydrothermal reactivity of SS. After ultrasonic pretreatment at 1.4 W/mL for 15 min, the yield of hydrochar derived from SS was 11.25% higher than that obtained after direct HTC. The hydrochar yield was also correlated with the ultrasonic pretreatment parameters. Ultrasonic pretreatment increased the specific surface area and number of oxygen-containing functional groups of the hydrochar and increased the energy density and energy yield by at most 7.63% and 9.56%, respectively. The impact of ultrasonic pretreatment on the heavy-metal pollution risk of hydrochar was evaluated in terms of the geological acumination index. Pretreatment with appropriate ultrasonic parameters decreased the pollution risks of Zn, Cu, Cr, and Pb. This study provides a valuable perspective on combined feedstock pretreatment and HTC, increasing the product value of HTC of sewage sludge.

Co-hydrothermal carbonization as a potential method of utilising digested sludge and screenings from wastewater treatment plants towards energy application

Anaerobic digestion is one of the most recommended methods for utilising sewage sludge produced by wastewater treatment plants. However, the increasing amount of micropollutants in digested sludge can significantly limit its future utilisation. Recent studies suggests that the hydrothermal carbonization process can be used as a complementary method for sludge management, due to the improved quality of solid products - hydrochar. Moreover, this allows for the possibility of reusing liquid by-products in the anaerobic digestion process for biogas production. However, hydrochar generated from hydrothermal carbonization has a higher concentration of heavy metals and low energy value, which limits its use in agriculture and energy sectors. This study highlights a partial resolution to this problem, by mixing digested sludge with screenings in the co-hydrothermal carbonization process. The findings of this study show improvements in the properties of hydrochar including total solids measured according to ISO, inorganic fractions determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry and higher calorific values measured by the calorimetric bomb. Biomethane potential tests were conducted on liquid by-products. The results showed an average increase in biomethane potential from liquids obtained from co-hydrothermal carbonization compared to liquids from hydrothermal carbonization of digested sludge without screenings in series 1, 2 and 3 - up to 60 %, 40 % and 26 % for three different sludges with initial total solids content of 2.6 %, 12.5 % and 21.5 % w/w.

Conversion of urban lignocellulosic waste into source of bioenergy through hydrothermal carbonization

The hydrothermal carbonization process has attracted the attention of the academic and scientific community as an emerging and ecological technology for the transformation of urban lignocellulosic waste into a source of bioenergy in solid form (hydrochar),liquid, and gases. This review addresses understanding the properties and potential use of these wastes as a source of bioenergy. The physicochemical and energetic properties of these wastes are analyzed, as well as the operating parameters that influencetheir transformation. Furthermore, new perspectives are presented on future challenges related to the potential use of this waste and the carbonization process. The sustainable conversion of these urban wastes into a source of bioenergy will contribute toreducing dependence on fossil fuels, minimizing greenhouse gas emissions, ensuring efficient urban waste management, and developing a circular bioeconomy.

Comparative Evaluation on Enhancing Fuel Properties of Biocoal from Bagasse Using Hydrothermal Carbonization and Torrefaction Processes

This research investigates the thermochemical conversion of sugarcane bagasse into biocoal using a subcritical aqueous medium (water, 200–250°C) and a limited oxygen atmosphere (nitrogen, 250–300°C). The aim is to discover alternative renewable energy sources to replace fossil fuels. The effects of those different methods on the physiochemical properties of the solid product were determined. The best results of fixed carbon (37.13%), carbon content (62.17%), fuel ratio (0.61), and higher heating value (HHV) (25.75 MJ/kg) were obtained under hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) at 250°C. Additionally, the HTC process effectively reduced the ash and sulphur content of the solid products. Moreover, HTC was found to be a promising method for depolymerizing hemicellulose. Hydrochar produced at 250°C is located within the range of lignite, which is typically obtained at lower reaction temperatures compared to biochar samples. Consequently, the conversion of sugarcane bagasse into solid biofuel through HTC shows great potential from a thermochemical perspective.

A review on hydrothermal treatments for solid, liquid and gaseous fuel production from biomass

The rise in the population and rapid industrialization has resulted in a rise in the global energy consumption. In order to minimize the load on the conventional energy sources, various studies are being conducted for the production of biofuels by hydrothermal operations. Unlike conventional processes of biofuel production, wet biomass can be directly utilised without drying in turn reducing the energy consumption. Feedstocks such as agricultural residue, forest residue, energy crops, algae, sludge, litter and food waste can be utilised for the production of biofuels. The operation intensities (temperature and pressure) can be varied from pressurized hot water to supercritical water. Hydrothermal operations depending on the operating parameters are further subcategorised into four types namely wet torrefaction (WT), hydrothermal carbonization (HTC), hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) and hydrothermal gasification (HTG). Even though the operating conditions of wet torrefaction and hydrothermal carbonization lie in similar categories, the difference is clearly visible in the level of carbonization. Due to the wide range of operating temperature and pressure, mainly three different products are produced through hydrothermal operations. The temperature range for wet torrefaction can be limited between 150 and 220 °C, whereas the HTC process can be between 200 and 260 °C. At higher temperatures (260 – 370 °C) in hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL), increased isomerization, depolymerization and repolymerization of organic compounds within the biomass occurred, causing liquid product (bio-oil) to be formed as the major product. Hydrothermal gasification can be further subcategorised into three types: namely aqueous phase refining, near critical water gasification and supercritical water gasification (SCWG). This paper has reviewed different hydrothermal operations based on biofuel production from different biomass.

Fate of Na & Cl in kitchen waste during hydrothermal carbonization

Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) is a sustainable approach to recover nutrients from kitchen waste (KW) to realize the applications of hydrochar as fuel, soil amendment and so on. However, the salt content of KW can be as high as 5 wt%, which brings potential risks for product utilization. Thus, the migration path of endogenous (from ingredients) and exogenous (from condiments) Na & Cl in KW during HTC process was investigated. Results showed that the endogenous and total Na element in KW was 0.03–2.98 wt% and 2.97–4.82 wt%, respectively. The main form of sodium was water-soluble (48–82%). The KW feedstocks and cooking methods had little effect on the migration of Na & Cl. During HTC treatment, all sodium element was transformed into water-soluble state, subsequently about 97% was dissolved into the liquid phase. The content of Na element in hydrochar was only below 0.05 wt%, so its negative effect can be negligible. As for the fate of chlorine, the endogenous and total Cl element in KW was 0.31–1.62 wt% and 1.82–3.19 wt%, respectively, and the main form was inorganic Cl accounting for 83–91%. During HTC treatment, about 40–75% of endogenous organochlorine was converted into inorganic Cl by breaking C-Cl bonds, and all inorganic Cl was leached into the liquid phase. In this pattern, partial organochlorine remained in hydrochar with a content of 0.21–0.32 wt%, which need to be further reduced. Methods of adding Na2CO3 solution or HTC-pyrolysis were effective, and approximately 90% of the organic Cl can be removed. Based on the above findings, this study can provide theoretical guidance for the value-added conversion of solid waste with high moisture and high salinity.