The latest research and development in hydrothermal carbonisation (HTC) processes are reviewed and the feasibility of application to small towns in the UK is assessed. The HTC process designed in this report is theoretically evaluated for the biodegradable municipal waste and sewage waste produced by the small-town Chirnside, in the Scottish Borders. Calculation of mass and energy balances of the process are carried out alongside the evaluation of challenges and environmental, social and economic opportunities presented. The hypothetical HTC plant is capable of processing Chirnside's waste at a rate of 72.5 kg h and has a positive net energy. The hydrochar produced is capable of producing 1452 MW h per year which equates to 35.6% of Chirnside's predicted energy demand in 2041. Both the expected opportunities and challenges for the application of HTC are discussed, sheding light on the associated research on sustainable technology.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/d0ra04607h | DOI Listing |
J Hazard Mater
November 2024
Energy and Resources Institute, Charles Darwin University, Ellengowan Drive, Purple 12.01.08, Casuarina, NT 0810, Australia. Electronic address:
Contamination of chars with dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (dl-PCB) significantly limits their use and hinders their deployment in the circular bioeconomy, specifically in applications that may lead to dietary exposure. Here, for the first time, we review the levels of contamination of chars produced from pyrolysis and hydrothermal carbonisation (HTC) with dl-PCB congeners. We conduct a detailed and critical examination of the role played by the processing parameters, such as temperature and residence time, and the reaction mechanisms, to detoxify the biomass under an oxygen-free atmosphere during its valorisation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Environ Manage
January 2025
Université Grenoble Alpes, CEA, LITEN, DTCH, Laboratoire Réacteurs et Procédés (LRP), F-38000, Grenoble, France. Electronic address:
With more than 10 million dry tons annually produced in the EU and a carbon content of approximately 30% db, sewage sludge (SS) can be a strategic source of biogenic carbon. However, the high moisture content and large amount of ash are strong barriers to sustainable valorisation. This study aims to assess the potential of hydrothermal carbonisation (HTC) as a sustainable alternative to sludge drying.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFChemosphere
December 2024
Faculty of Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW, 2480, Australia; The Cooperative Research Centre for High Performance Soils, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia.
Hydrothermal carbonised wastes (hydrochars) can have toxic effects on soil biota, but factors influencing toxin formation in hydrochar, and subsequent toxicity to soil organisms, have not been elucidated. This study investigated the toxicity of hydrochars on soil biota, with a focus on earthworm (Eisenia fetida) avoidance, microbial metabolic quotient (qCO) and microbial activities. Two reaction temperatures (200 °C and 260 °C) and different feedstocks (biosolids, chicken manure and rice straw) were used.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBioresour Technol
May 2024
Department of Chemical Engineering and Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Universitat de Barcelona, C/Martí i Franquès, 08028 Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address:
This research aimed to synthesise an effective hydrochar adsorbent from vineyard pruning wastes to remove emerging contaminants as a potential valorisation product. The adsorption capacity of the hydrochar was optimised using the Taguchi method. Four synthesis variables were evaluated: hydrothermal reaction temperature, use of HPO as a catalyst, number of acetone washes, and type of chemical cold activation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnviron Res
March 2024
School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Resource-oriented Treatment of Industrial Pollutants, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China.
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) waste plastic is a typical solid waste. In this paper, the dechlorination and carbonization behavior of PVC in ethanol-water/water system under different process parameters (temperature, residence time, solid-liquid ratio) was studied, and hydrothermal carbon was characterized by SEM, elemental analysis, TG-DTG, XPS, Py-GC/MS. The results show that temperature is the key to the hydrothermal dechlorination of PVC, and the dechlorination efficiency of PVC is the highest by parameter optimization (220°C-90 min-10% S/D-80% E/D), which can reach 96.
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