The properties and combustion behaviors of hydrochars derived from co-hydrothermal carbonization of sewage sludge and food waste.

The experiments of co-hydrothermal carbonization (co-HTC) of sewage sludge and food waste in different mixing ratio (30%, 50% and 70%) and process temperature (180 °C, 230 °C and 280 °C) were conducted in this paper. And the hydrochars properties and thermal behaviors were investigated to determine the effects of the conditions. The results showed that the hydrochars derived from co-HTC possessed higher C content, higher HHV compared with the hydrochar of sewage sludge. Meanwhile, it maintained low N, S and O content relatively. It ascribed to the carbonization, dehydration and decarboxylation reactions according to the ultimate analysis and proximate analysis. And the TGA indicated that the combustion behaviors got better compared with the hydrochar of sewage sludge. Therefore, the co-HTC with food waste is an effective way to transform sewage sludge into clean solid fuel in the field of energy utilization.

Effects of aqueous phase recirculation in hydrothermal carbonization of sweet potato waste.

Aqueous phase recirculation was investigated in hydrothermal carbonization of sweet potato waste at 220 °C for 60 min. The result showed that the aqueous phase reuse significantly increased the hydrochar yield. The lower H/C and O/C ratios indicated that decarboxylation reaction was promoted. The CC vibration of the benzene backbone became intense, suggesting the occurrence of aromatization and polymerization reactions. Thus, the carbon content and HHV were improved. After recirculation, hydrochar showed a decrease in combustion ignition temperature whereas an increase in pyrolysis initial decomposition temperature. The burnout temperatures in combustion and terminated temperature in pyrolysis both showed an increase trend. The hydrochars obtained from the recirculation step possessed lower emissions of NOX or SO2 than that from reference step. The pyrolysis emission result showed that more high thermal stability components were formed during recirculation step. Overall, aqueous phase recirculation was a feasible way to improve hydrothermal carbonization process.