Effects of hydrolysis and carbonization reactions on hydrochar production. (September 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fakkaew, K.; Koottatep, T.; Polprasert, C.
• Is Part Of: Bioresource technology. Volume 192(2015)
• Page Start: 328
• Page End: 334
• Publication Date: 2015-09
• Subjects: Hydrothermal carbonization -- Hydrochar -- Faecal sludge -- Hydrolysis -- Carbonization; Biomass -- Periodicals; Biomass energy -- Periodicals; Bioremediation -- Periodicals; Agricultural wastes -- Periodicals; Factory and trade waste -- Periodicals; Organic wastes -- Periodicals; Bioénergie -- Périodiques; Déchets agricoles -- Périodiques; Déchets industriels -- Périodiques; Déchets organiques -- Périodiques; Déchets (Combustible) -- Périodiques; 662.88
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2015.05.091
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0960-8524

Abstract

Highlights: Energy content of the hydrochar increased with increasing hydrolysis reaction time. Energy content of the hydrochar increased with increasing carbonization temperature. Energy input of the two-stage HTC was less than the conventional HTC. High energy efficiency could be found at the two-stage HTC. Abstract: Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) is a thermal conversion process which converts wet biomass into hydrochar. In this study, a low-energy HTC process named "Two-stage HTC" comprising of hydrolysis and carbonization stages using faecal sludge as feedstock was developed and optimized. The experimental results indicated the optimum conditions of the two-stage HTC to be; hydrolysis temperature of 170 °C, hydrolysis reaction time of 155 min, carbonization temperature of 215 °C, and carbonization reaction time of 100 min. The hydrolysis reaction time and carbonization temperature had a statistically significant effect on energy content of the produced hydrochar. Energy input of the two-stage HTC was about 25% less than conventional HTC. Energy efficiency of the two-stage HTC for treating faecal sludge was higher than that of conventional HTC and other thermal conversion processes such as pyrolysis and gasification. The two-stage HTC could be considered as a potential technology for treating FS and producing hydrochar.