Catalytic co-hydrothermal carbonization of food waste digestate and yard waste for energy application and nutrient recovery

Mingjing He; Xiefei Zhu; Shanta Dutta; Samir Kumar Khanal; Keat Teong Lee; Ondrej Masek; Daniel C.W. Tsang

doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2021.126395

Catalytic co-hydrothermal carbonization of food waste digestate and yard waste for energy application and nutrient recovery

Mingjing He
, Xiefei Zhu
, Shanta Dutta
, Samir Kumar Khanal
, Keat Teong Lee
, Ondrej Masek
, Daniel C.W. Tsang

Research output: Journal article publication › Journal article › Academic research › peer-review

121 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) provides a promising alternative to valorize food waste digestate (FWD) and avoid disposal issues. Although hydrochar derived from FWD alone had a low calorific content (HHV of 13.9 MJ kg⁻¹), catalytic co-HTC of FWD with wet lignocellulosic biomass (e.g., wet yard waste; YW) and 0.5 M HCl exhibited overall superior attributes in terms of energy recovery (22.7 MJ kg⁻¹), stable and comprehensive combustion behaviour, potential nutrient recovery from process water (2-fold higher N retention and 129-fold higher P extraction), and a high C utilization efficiency (only 2.4% C loss). In contrast, co-HTC with citric acid provided ∼3-fold higher autogenous pressure, resulting in a superior energy content of 25.0 MJ kg⁻¹, but the high C loss (∼74%) compromised the overall environmental benefits. The results of this study established a foundation to fully utilize FWD and YW hydrochar for bioenergy application and resource recovery from the process water.

Original language	English
Article number	126395
Journal	Bioresource Technology
Volume	344
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2021.126395
Publication status	Published - Jan 2022

Keywords

Bioenergy
Food waste hydrochar
Resource recovery
Solid fuel
Sustainable waste management
Yard waste recycling

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Bioengineering
Environmental Engineering
Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
Waste Management and Disposal

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1016/j.biortech.2021.126395

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title = "Catalytic co-hydrothermal carbonization of food waste digestate and yard waste for energy application and nutrient recovery",

abstract = "Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) provides a promising alternative to valorize food waste digestate (FWD) and avoid disposal issues. Although hydrochar derived from FWD alone had a low calorific content (HHV of 13.9 MJ kg−1), catalytic co-HTC of FWD with wet lignocellulosic biomass (e.g., wet yard waste; YW) and 0.5 M HCl exhibited overall superior attributes in terms of energy recovery (22.7 MJ kg−1), stable and comprehensive combustion behaviour, potential nutrient recovery from process water (2-fold higher N retention and 129-fold higher P extraction), and a high C utilization efficiency (only 2.4\% C loss). In contrast, co-HTC with citric acid provided ∼3-fold higher autogenous pressure, resulting in a superior energy content of 25.0 MJ kg−1, but the high C loss (∼74\%) compromised the overall environmental benefits. The results of this study established a foundation to fully utilize FWD and YW hydrochar for bioenergy application and resource recovery from the process water.",

keywords = "Bioenergy, Food waste hydrochar, Resource recovery, Solid fuel, Sustainable waste management, Yard waste recycling",

author = "Mingjing He and Xiefei Zhu and Shanta Dutta and Khanal, \{Samir Kumar\} and Lee, \{Keat Teong\} and Ondrej Masek and Tsang, \{Daniel C.W.\}",

note = "Funding Information: The authors appreciate the financial support from the Hong Kong Environment and Conservation Fund (Project 101/2020 ) and Hong Kong International Airport Environmental Fund (Phase 2). Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021 Elsevier Ltd",

year = "2022",

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doi = "10.1016/j.biortech.2021.126395",

language = "English",

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journal = "Bioresource Technology",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Catalytic co-hydrothermal carbonization of food waste digestate and yard waste for energy application and nutrient recovery

AU - He, Mingjing

AU - Zhu, Xiefei

AU - Dutta, Shanta

AU - Khanal, Samir Kumar

AU - Lee, Keat Teong

AU - Masek, Ondrej

AU - Tsang, Daniel C.W.

N1 - Funding Information: The authors appreciate the financial support from the Hong Kong Environment and Conservation Fund (Project 101/2020 ) and Hong Kong International Airport Environmental Fund (Phase 2). Publisher Copyright: © 2021 Elsevier Ltd

PY - 2022/1

Y1 - 2022/1

N2 - Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) provides a promising alternative to valorize food waste digestate (FWD) and avoid disposal issues. Although hydrochar derived from FWD alone had a low calorific content (HHV of 13.9 MJ kg−1), catalytic co-HTC of FWD with wet lignocellulosic biomass (e.g., wet yard waste; YW) and 0.5 M HCl exhibited overall superior attributes in terms of energy recovery (22.7 MJ kg−1), stable and comprehensive combustion behaviour, potential nutrient recovery from process water (2-fold higher N retention and 129-fold higher P extraction), and a high C utilization efficiency (only 2.4% C loss). In contrast, co-HTC with citric acid provided ∼3-fold higher autogenous pressure, resulting in a superior energy content of 25.0 MJ kg−1, but the high C loss (∼74%) compromised the overall environmental benefits. The results of this study established a foundation to fully utilize FWD and YW hydrochar for bioenergy application and resource recovery from the process water.

AB - Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) provides a promising alternative to valorize food waste digestate (FWD) and avoid disposal issues. Although hydrochar derived from FWD alone had a low calorific content (HHV of 13.9 MJ kg−1), catalytic co-HTC of FWD with wet lignocellulosic biomass (e.g., wet yard waste; YW) and 0.5 M HCl exhibited overall superior attributes in terms of energy recovery (22.7 MJ kg−1), stable and comprehensive combustion behaviour, potential nutrient recovery from process water (2-fold higher N retention and 129-fold higher P extraction), and a high C utilization efficiency (only 2.4% C loss). In contrast, co-HTC with citric acid provided ∼3-fold higher autogenous pressure, resulting in a superior energy content of 25.0 MJ kg−1, but the high C loss (∼74%) compromised the overall environmental benefits. The results of this study established a foundation to fully utilize FWD and YW hydrochar for bioenergy application and resource recovery from the process water.

KW - Bioenergy

KW - Food waste hydrochar

KW - Resource recovery

KW - Solid fuel

KW - Sustainable waste management

KW - Yard waste recycling

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DO - 10.1016/j.biortech.2021.126395

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 34822987

AN - SCOPUS:85120634962

SN - 0960-8524

VL - 344

JO - Bioresource Technology

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Catalytic co-hydrothermal carbonization of food waste digestate and yard waste for energy application and nutrient recovery

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

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