Bio-Crude Production through Recycling of Pretreated Aqueous Phase via Activated Carbon

Ayaz Ali Shah, Saqib Sohail Toor, Asbjørn Haaning Nielsen, Thomas Helmer Pedersen and Lasse Aistrup Rosendahl
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Ayaz Ali Shah: Department of Energy Technology, Aalborg University, Pontoppidanstræde 111, 9220 Aalborg, Denmark
Saqib Sohail Toor: Department of Energy Technology, Aalborg University, Pontoppidanstræde 111, 9220 Aalborg, Denmark
Asbjørn Haaning Nielsen: Department of the Built Environment, Aalborg University, 9220 Aalborg, Denmark
Thomas Helmer Pedersen: Department of Energy Technology, Aalborg University, Pontoppidanstræde 111, 9220 Aalborg, Denmark
Lasse Aistrup Rosendahl: Department of Energy Technology, Aalborg University, Pontoppidanstræde 111, 9220 Aalborg, Denmark

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 12, 1-20

Abstract: The management and optimization of the aqueous phase are the major challenges that hinder the promotion of hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) technology on a commercial scale. Recently, many studies reported about the accumulation of the N-content in the bio-crude with continuous recycling of the aqueous phase from high protein-containing biomass. In the present study, sewage sludge was processed at 350 °C in an autoclave. The produced aqueous phase was treated with activated carbon, and its subsequent recycling effect on the properties of the bio-crude and aqueous phase was investigated. By contacting the aqueous phase with activated carbon, 38–43% of the total nitrogen was removed from the aqueous phase. After applying the treated aqueous phase recycling, the energy recovery of the bio-crude increased from 50 to 61% after three rounds of recycling. From overall carbon/nitrogen recoveries, 50 to 56% of the carbon was transferred to the bio-crude phase and more than 50% of the nitrogen remained in the aqueous phase. The aqueous phase contained mostly of N&O-heterocyclic compounds, small chain organic acids, and amides. ICP-AES analysis showed that more than 80% of the inorganic elements were concentrated into the solid phase.

Keywords: aqueous phase recycling; sewage sludge; activated carbon; HTL; bio-crude (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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