Evaluation of the life cycle of hydrothermally carbonized biomass for energy and horticulture application. (October 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Roy, Poritosh; Dutta, Animesh; Gallant, Jim
• Is Part Of: Renewable & sustainable energy reviews. Volume 132(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-10
• Subjects: Peat moss -- Miscanthus -- Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) -- Soil amendment -- Bioenergy -- Environmental impacts; HTC Hydrothermal carbonization -- GWP Global warming potential -- GHG Greenhouse gas -- LCA life cycle assessment -- HBL Hudson bay lowlands -- LDPE Low-density polyethylene -- dLUC direct land-use change -- iLUC indirect land-use change -- MC Moisture content -- CHP Combined heat and power -- HC Hydrochar -- EPA Environmental protection agency -- TRACI Tool for the reduction and assessment of chemical and other environmental impacts -- MJ Megajule -- NSERC Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council -- OMAFRA Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs; Renewable energy sources -- Periodicals; Power resources -- Periodicals; Énergies renouvelables -- Périodiques; Ressources énergétiques -- Périodiques; 333.794
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2020.110046
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1364-0321

Abstract

Abstract: Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) is a promising method to process high moisture biomass into biofuel/biomaterial. The environmental benefits of biomass depend on the processing methods and its end-use. Although life cycle assessment (LCA) of HTC of wet biomass has been conducted, co-processing of peat moss with agricultural biomass (miscanthus) is yet to be reported. This study evaluates the environmental performance of hydrothermally carbonized biomass (peat moss, miscanthus, and a blend of the two) used for energy ( S 3, S 5, S 7 ) or soil amendment ( S 2, S 4, S 6, S 8 ) and compared with untreated biomass (peat moss left on-site: S 1 ; peat moss used for soil amendment: S 2 ) to determine the most viable pathway of biomass. Hydrochar produced from miscanthus had a lower global warming potential (GWP) compared with the hydrochar from peat moss or their blend; however, other impact categories were observed to be greater. The environmental impacts from the life cycle of biomass depend on their life cycle pathways. The highest GWP was observed in the case of peat moss used for horticulture application ( S 2 ) followed by S 3, S 5, S 4, S 6, S 7, S 8 and S 1 . Hydrochar used in soil amendment was more environmentally benign than the energy application, but the benefits were dependent on the decomposition rate of biomass. Additionally, HTC process required a considerable amount of water even it can process high moisture biomass. Renewable energy and agricultural policy may be needed to encourage hydrochar use/production/integration into soil amendment and energy application in rural communities. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Life cycle of hydrothermally carbonized and untreated biomass has been evaluated. Peat moss, miscanthus, their blend are used for energy or horticulture application. Hydrochar from miscanthus has a lower GWP than the hydrochar from peat moss. Hydrochar horticulture application is environmentally benign than energy application.