Bio-Crude Production Improvement during Hydrothermal Liquefaction of Biopulp by Simultaneous Application of Alkali Catalysts and Aqueous Phase Recirculation

Komeil Kohansal, Kamaldeep Sharma, Saqib Sohail Toor, Eliana Lozano Sanchez, Joscha Zimmermann, Lasse Aistrup Rosendahl and Thomas Helmer Pedersen
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Komeil Kohansal: Department of Energy Technology, Aalborg University, Pontoppidanstræde 111, 9220 Aalborg, Denmark
Kamaldeep Sharma: 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
Eliana Lozano Sanchez: Department of Energy Technology, Aalborg University, Pontoppidanstræde 111, 9220 Aalborg, Denmark
Joscha Zimmermann: Institute of Catalysis Research and Technology (IKFT), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
Lasse Aistrup Rosendahl: Department of Energy Technology, Aalborg University, Pontoppidanstræde 111, 9220 Aalborg, Denmark
Thomas Helmer Pedersen: Department of Energy Technology, Aalborg University, Pontoppidanstræde 111, 9220 Aalborg, Denmark

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 15, 1-21

Abstract: This study focuses on the valorization of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (biopulp) by hydrothermal liquefaction. Thereby, homogeneous alkali catalysts (KOH, NaOH, K 2 CO 3 , and Na 2 CO 3 ) and a residual aqueous phase recirculation methodology were mutually employed to enhance the bio-crude yield and energy efficiency of a sub-critical hydrothermal conversion (350 °C, 15–20 Mpa, 15 min). Interestingly, single recirculation of the concentrated aqueous phase positively increased the bio-crude yield in all cases, while the higher heating value (HHV) of the bio-crudes slightly dropped. Compared to the non-catalytic experiment, K 2 CO 3 and Na 2 CO 3 effectively increased the bio-crude yield by 14 and 7.3%, respectively. However, KOH and NaOH showed a negative variation in the bio-crude yield. The highest bio-crude yield (37.5 wt.%) and energy recovery (ER) (59.4%) were achieved when K 2 CO 3 and concentrated aqueous phase recirculation were simultaneously applied to the process. The inorganics distribution results obtained by ICP reveal the tendency of the alkali elements to settle into the aqueous phase, which, if recovered, can potentially boost the circularity of the HTL process. Therefore, wise selection of the alkali catalyst along with aqueous phase recirculation assists hydrothermal liquefaction in green biofuel production and environmentally friendly valorization of biopulp.

Keywords: hydrothermal liquefaction; municipal solid waste; biopulp; alkali catalyst; aqueous phase recirculation (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 (1)

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