Abstract
In this study, red seaweed (Gracilaria lemaneiformis) food waste with high carbohydrate content was valorized into levulinic acid (LA) and algae hydrochar through microwave-assisted low-temperature hydrothermal treatment in dilute acid solution. Various parameters including treatment temperature (160–200 °C), reaction time (1–40 min), acid concentration (0–0.6 M), and biomass-to-liquid ratio (1%–10%, w/v) were examined. The energy efficiency and carbon recovery of the proposed process were investigated. Under the experimental conditions of 5% (w/v) biomass loading, 0.2 M H2SO4, 180 °C, and 20 min, the highest levulinic acid yield of 16.3 wt% was produced. The resulting hydrochar showed approximately 45–55% energy yield and higher heating values of 19–25 MJ kg−1. The energy efficiency of the present study (1.31 × 10−6 g LA/J) was comparable to those of the conventional hydrothermal treatment of lignocellulosic biomass, while the reaction time (20 min) was much shorter with a high carbon recovery (73.3%).
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 251-258 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Bioresource Technology |
Volume | 273 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Feb 2019 |
Keywords
- Acid hydrolysis
- Carbohydrate-rich biomass
- Engineered biochar
- Food waste valorization
- Macroalgae biorefinery
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Bioengineering
- Environmental Engineering
- Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
- Waste Management and Disposal