Synergistic improvements in energy recovery and bio-oil quality through integrated thermochemical valorization of agro-industrial waste of varying moisture content.

Two thermochemical valorization schemes were investigated for co-upgrading dry and wet agricultural wastes through integrated hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) and pyrolysis. In the first pathway, dry and wet wastes were co-carbonized. The resulting hydrochar was pyrolyzed to yield an energy dense biochar (26-32 MJ/kg) high in fixed carbon (41-86 wt%) and low in volatile matter (6-12 wt%).