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Hydrothermal Conversion of Neutral Sulfite Semi-Chemical Red Liquor into Hydrochar

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  • Ramy Gamgoum

    (School of Engineering, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada)

  • Animesh Dutta

    (School of Engineering, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada)

  • Rafael M. Santos

    (School of Applied Chemical and Environmental Sciences, Sheridan Institute of Technology, 7899 McLaughlin Road, Brampton, ON L6Y 5H9, Canada)

  • Yi Wai Chiang

    (School of Engineering, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada)

Abstract

Hydrochar was produced from neutral sulfite semi-chemical (NSSC) red liquor as a possible bio-based solid fuel for use in power generation facilities. Hydrothermal conversion (HTC) experiments were conducted using a fixed liquor-to-water volume ratio of 1:8 and reaction time of 3 h. Solutions were processed using different chemical additives, pH and temperature conditions to determine the optimum conditions required for producing a high energy content solid fuel. The hydrochar samples produced were analyzed by ultimate, thermogravimetric (TGA) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses to determine physicochemical properties that are important for utilization as a fuel. The residual process liquids were also analyzed to better understand the effect of HTC process conditions on their properties. It was determined that the optimum conditions for producing a solid fuel was at a reaction temperature of 250 °C, in the presence of acetic acid at pH 3. The maximum energy content (HHV) of the hydrochar produced from red liquor at this condition was 29.87 MJ/kg, and its ash content was 1.12 wt.%. This result reflects the effect of increasing reaction temperature on the physicochemical characteristics of the hydrochar. The increase of HTC temperature significantly reduces the ash content of the hydrochar, leads to a significant increase in the carbon content of the hydrochar, and a reduction in both the oxygen and hydrogen content. These effects suggests an increase in the degree of condensation of the hydrochar products, and consequently the formation of a high energy content material. Based on TGA and FTIR analyses, hydrochars prepared at high HTC temperature showed lower adsorbed moisture, hemicellulose and cellulose contents, with enrichment in content of higher temperature volatiles, such as lignin.

Suggested Citation

  • Ramy Gamgoum & Animesh Dutta & Rafael M. Santos & Yi Wai Chiang, 2016. "Hydrothermal Conversion of Neutral Sulfite Semi-Chemical Red Liquor into Hydrochar," Energies, MDPI, vol. 9(6), pages 1-18, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:9:y:2016:i:6:p:435-:d:71401
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Rodrigo Lopes De Souza & Hao Yu & Franck Rataboul & Nadine Essayem, 2012. "5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) Production from Hexoses: Limits of Heterogeneous Catalysis in Hydrothermal Conditions and Potential of Concentrated Aqueous Organic Acids as Reactive Solvent System," Challenges, MDPI, vol. 3(2), pages 1-21, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Michela Lucian & Luca Fiori, 2017. "Hydrothermal Carbonization of Waste Biomass: Process Design, Modeling, Energy Efficiency and Cost Analysis," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-18, February.
    2. Bide Zhang & Mohammad Heidari & Bharat Regmi & Shakirudeen Salaudeen & Precious Arku & Mahendra Thimmannagari & Animesh Dutta, 2018. "Hydrothermal Carbonization of Fruit Wastes: A Promising Technique for Generating Hydrochar," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-14, August.
    3. Dhananjay Bhatt & Ankita Shrestha & Raj Kumar Dahal & Bishnu Acharya & Prabir Basu & Richard MacEwen, 2018. "Hydrothermal Carbonization of Biosolids from Waste Water Treatment Plant," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-10, August.
    4. Heidari, Mohammad & Salaudeen, Shakirudeen & Arku, Precious & Acharya, Bishnu & Tasnim, Syeda & Dutta, Animesh, 2021. "Development of a mathematical model for hydrothermal carbonization of biomass: Comparison of experimental measurements with model predictions," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 214(C).
    5. Isaac Lorero & Arturo J. Vizcaíno & Francisco J. Alguacil & Félix A. López, 2020. "Activated Carbon from Winemaking Waste: Thermoeconomic Analysis for Large-Scale Production," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-22, December.
    6. Shrestha, Ankita & Acharya, Bishnu & Farooque, Aitazaz A., 2021. "Study of hydrochar and process water from hydrothermal carbonization of sea lettuce," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 163(C), pages 589-598.
    7. Trishan Deb Abhi & Omid Norouzi & Kevin Macdermid-Watts & Mohammad Heidari & Syeda Tasnim & Animesh Dutta, 2021. "Miscanthus to Biocarbon for Canadian Iron and Steel Industries: An Innovative Approach," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-18, July.

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