From scraps to purification: innovative use of food waste-derived hydrochar in eradicating pharmaceutical pollutants.

Chemical products (CPs) such as carbamazepine and naproxen, present in aquatic environments, pose significant risks to both aquatic life and human health. This study investigated the use of hydrothermally carbonized food waste-derived hydrochar (AC-HTC) at three distinct temperatures (200, 250, and 300 °C) as an adsorbent to remove these CPs from water. Our research focused on the impact of hydrothermal carbonization temperature on hydrochar properties and the effects of chemical activation with phosphoric acid on adsorption capacity.

Valorisation of food waste via hydrothermal carbonisation and techno-economic feasibility assessment.

Food waste constitutes a remarkable portion of municipal solid waste. About one-third of the global food waste produced is lost with the food supply chain. Food waste in many countries is still dumped of in landfill or incinerated simultaneously with other municipal wastes.

Effect of temperature on the fuel properties of food waste and coal blend treated under co-hydrothermal carbonization.

A blended feedstock containing food waste and coal was used to perform co-hydrothermal carbonization (Co-HTC) at different temperatures to observe the effect of temperature on the solid fuel properties of different hydrochars. Moreover, these hydrochars were mixed with molasses which act as a binder to prepare high mechanical strength pellets. A range of techniques was used to characterise the hydrochars and pellets.

Physicochemical, structural and combustion characterization of food waste hydrochar obtained by hydrothermal carbonization.

A solid carbon-rich product hydrochar, was prepared using hydrothermal carbonisation of food waste at temperatures of 200, 250 and 300 °C. To acquire detailed insight into physicochemical and structural properties, hydrochar samples were characterised using a range of techniques. The carbon content and higher heating value of food waste increased considerably from 39 to 73% and 15 to 31 MJ/kg corresponding to the heating temperature.