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Integrated hydrothermal carbonization and pyrolysis for valorizing high-moisture biomass: Structural evolution and energy efficiency evaluation

Author

Listed:
  • Xu, Hao
  • Hungwe, Douglas
  • Yang, Pu
  • Yu, Mengzhu
  • Tie, Hieng Ong
  • Yoshikawa, Kunio
  • Takahashi, Fumitake

Abstract

High water content of moisture-rich biomass, such as asparagus by-products, hampers energy recovery in conventional thermochemical processes by increasing pretreatment requirements. Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) has been widely applied to valorize such feedstocks by extracting the liquid-phase compounds; however, the downstream utilization of solid hydrochar remains insufficiently explored. This study proposes an integrated HTC-pyrolysis strategy that leverages intrinsic biomass moisture to minimize external energy demand and enable efficient valorization of hydrochar, thereby enhancing overall system efficiency. By systematically varying HTC conditions across a range of temperatures and total solid ratios, we show that optimized processing improves hydrochar fuel properties and shifts pyrolysis products toward energy-dense phenolics and aromatics. Simplified energy efficiency and life cycle assessments further demonstrate that moderate HTC conditions provide the best balance of energy recovery and environmental performance. These findings highlight the potential of HTC-pyrolysis integration as a sustainable and practical approach for valorizing high-moisture biomass resources.

Suggested Citation

  • Xu, Hao & Hungwe, Douglas & Yang, Pu & Yu, Mengzhu & Tie, Hieng Ong & Yoshikawa, Kunio & Takahashi, Fumitake, 2026. "Integrated hydrothermal carbonization and pyrolysis for valorizing high-moisture biomass: Structural evolution and energy efficiency evaluation," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 258(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:258:y:2026:i:c:s096014812502662x
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2025.124998
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    References listed on IDEAS

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