Hydrothermal conversion of biomass to fuels, chemicals and materials: A review holistically connecting product properties and marketable applications

Zhou, Yihong; Remón, Javier; Pang, Xin; Jiang, Zhicheng; Liu, Haiteng; Ding, Wei

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163920

Cited by 19 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 323 publications

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“…Specifically, smaller particle sizes have been associated with enhanced reaction kinetics, facilitating increased conversion efficiency and higher product yields. Moreover, higher biomass-to-water ratios have been shown to improve mass transfer rates within the system, ultimately impacting the overall process efficiency [37]. The solubility of biomass components is intricately linked to the biomass-to-water ratio, with optimal ratios leading to improved conversion efficiency and superior product quality [38].…”

Section: Aqueous Phase Conductivity Monitoring Ph Measurement and Par...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of the Effect of Particle Size and Biomass-to-Water Ratio on the Hydrothermal Carbonization of Sugarcane Bagasse

Moreno-Chocontá,

Lozano-Pérez,

Guerrero-Fajardo

2024

ChemEngineering

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The generation of platform chemicals and hydrochar is of great interest because they reduce dependence on fossil resources and contribute to climate change mitigation by reducing carbon emissions. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of biomass particle size and biomass-to-water ratio in a hydrothermal conversion system for the generation of value-added products obtained from sugarcane bagasse. Biomass characterization was performed using proximal, elemental, and structural analysis; hydrothermal carbonization was carried out at 220 and 260 °C for one hour; and conversion was monitored using pH, conductivity, and IR spectroscopy. Platform chemicals were quantified using HPLC-IR. Hydrochars were characterized by using scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy. Optimizing biomass particle size and water ratio is crucial for maximizing the yield of platform chemicals and hydrochar. The study’s outcomes revealed that specific combinations, such as a biomass-to-water ratio of 1:50 and a particle size of 212 μm at 220 °C, resulted in a substantial 31.07% yield of platform chemicals on a dry basis. This highlights the critical role these parameters play in influencing the production efficiency of valuable chemicals. Furthermore, variations in biomass particle size and water ratio also affect the characteristics of hydrochar. For instance, utilizing a biomass-to-water ratio of 1:50 and a larger particle size of 600 μm at 260 °C led to the production of hydrochar with higher carbon content and increased porosity. These findings underscore how adjustments in these factors can impact not only chemical yields, but also the properties and quality of the resulting hydrochar.

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Section: Aqueous Phase Conductivity Monitoring Ph Measurement and Par...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of the Effect of Particle Size and Biomass-to-Water Ratio on the Hydrothermal Carbonization of Sugarcane Bagasse

Moreno-Chocontá,

Lozano-Pérez,

Guerrero-Fajardo

2024

ChemEngineering

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“…If the organic loss exceeds the inorganic reduction, the ash content increases. Elements like K, Si, Cl, and Fe tend to remain on the solid matrix, becoming insoluble during HTC and increasing the ash content in the hydrochar [41,42].…”

Section: Proximate Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigation of Hydrothermal Carbonization of Exhausted Chestnut from Tannin Extraction: Impact of Process Water Recirculation for Sustainable Fuel Production

Cardarelli,

Cordelli,

Romagnoli

et al. 2024

Energies

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This study explores the hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) process applied to the exhausted chestnut produced by the tannin extraction industry, utilizing process water recirculation to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of the conversion process. Tannin extraction from wood typically involves hot water treatment, leaving behind residual wood biomass known as exhausted wood. These by-products maintain their renewable properties because they have only been exposed to hot water under a high pressure, which is unlikely to cause major alterations in their structural components. Hydrothermal treatment was carried out at temperatures of 220 °C and 270 °C for 1 h, with process water being recirculated four times. This investigation focused on analyzing the effects of recirculation on the yield and fuel properties of hydrochar, as well as characterizing the combustion behavior of the obtained hydrochar. The results indicated that recirculation of process water led to improvements in both the mass and energy yields of hydrochar. The mass yield of the hydrochar samples increased by 5–6%, and the ERE of the hydrochar samples increased by 5–8% compared to the HTC reference sample. However, alterations in the combustion characteristics were observed, including decreases in ignition temperature and combustion reactivity. The results indicate that, with PW recirculations, the combustion index decreased by about 14% and 18% for 220 °C and 270 °C, respectively. Overall, this research demonstrates the potential of utilizing HTC on chestnut tannin residue with process water recirculation to produce stable solid fuel and provides insights into the combustion behavior of the resulting hydrochar.

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“…Despite these benefits, HTC faces challenges, including feedstock variability affecting hydrochar quality, the need for process optimization to improve efficiency and yield, economic hurdles related to high operational costs and scalability, and environmental concerns regarding pollutant release and by-product management. Addressing these issues is crucial for advancing HTC as a sustainable biomass conversion technology [175].…”

Section: Production Of Hydrocharmentioning

confidence: 99%

Agricultural Wastes and Their By-Products for the Energy Market

Zielińska,

Bułkowska

2024

Energies

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The conversion of lignocellulosic agricultural waste into biofuels and other economically valuable compounds can reduce dependence on fossil fuels, reduce harmful gas emissions, support the sustainability of natural resources, including water, and minimize the amount of waste in landfills, thus reducing environmental degradation. In this paper, the conversion of agricultural wastes into biomethane, biohydrogen, biodiesel, bioethanol, biobutanol, and bio-oil is reviewed, with special emphasis on primary and secondary agricultural residues as substrates. Some novel approaches are mentioned that offer opportunities to increase the efficiency of waste valorization, e.g., hybrid systems. In addition to physical, chemical, and biological pretreatment of waste, some combined methods to mitigate the negative effects of various recalcitrant compounds on waste processing (alkali-assisted thermal pretreatment, thermal hydrolysis pretreatment, and alkali pretreatment combined with bioaugmentation) are evaluated. In addition, the production of volatile fatty acids, polyhydroxyalkanoates, biochar, hydrochar, cellulosic nanomaterials, and selected platform chemicals from lignocellulosic waste is described. Finally, the potential uses of biofuels and other recovered products are discussed.

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Hydrothermal conversion of biomass to fuels, chemicals and materials: A review holistically connecting product properties and marketable applications

Cited by 19 publications

References 323 publications

Evaluation of the Effect of Particle Size and Biomass-to-Water Ratio on the Hydrothermal Carbonization of Sugarcane Bagasse

Evaluation of the Effect of Particle Size and Biomass-to-Water Ratio on the Hydrothermal Carbonization of Sugarcane Bagasse

Investigation of Hydrothermal Carbonization of Exhausted Chestnut from Tannin Extraction: Impact of Process Water Recirculation for Sustainable Fuel Production

Agricultural Wastes and Their By-Products for the Energy Market

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