Hydrothermal Carbonization of Olive Tree Pruning as a Sustainable Way for Improving Biomass Energy Potential: Effect of Reaction Parameters on Fuel Properties

González-Arias, Judith ; Sánchez, Marta Elena ; Martínez, Elia Judith ; Covalski, Camila ; Alonso-Simón, Ana ; González, Rubén ; Cara-Jiménez, Jorge

Resumen: Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) allows the conversion of organic waste into a solid product called hydrochar with improved fuel properties. Olive tree pruning biomass (OTP), a very abundant residue in Mediterranean countries, was treated by HTC to obtain a solid fuel similar to coal that could be used in co-combustion processes. Three different reaction temperatures (220, 250, and 280 °C) and reaction times (3, 6, and 9 h) were selected. The hydrochars obtained were extensively analyzed to study their behavior as fuel (i.e., ultimate, proximate, fiber and thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), activation energy, and combustion performance). The concentrations of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin in the samples depict a clear and consistent trend with the chemical reactions carried out in this treatment. Regarding O/C and H/C ratios and HHV, the hydrochars generated at more severe conditions are similar to lignite coal, reaching values of HHV up to 29.6 MJ kg−1. The higher stability of the solid is reflected by the increase of the activation energy (≈60 kJ mol−1), and ignition temperatures close to 400 °C. With this, HTC is a proper thermal treatment for the management of raw OTP biomass and its further conversion into a solid biofuel.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.3390/pr8101201

Año: 2020

Publicado en: PROCESSES 8, 10 (2020), 1201 [20 pp.]
ISSN: 2227-9717

Factor impacto JCR: 2.847 (2020)

Categ. JCR: ENGINEERING, CHEMICAL rank: 74 / 143 = 0.517 (2020) - Q3 - T2

Factor impacto SCIMAGO: 0.413 - Bioengineering (Q2) - Process Chemistry and Technology (Q2) - Chemical Engineering (miscellaneous) (Q2)

Tipo y forma: Artículo (Versión definitiva)