Characteristics of Biochar Obtained by Hydrothermal Carbonization of Cellulose for Renewable Energy

Daegi Kim, Kunio Yoshikawa and Ki Young Park
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Daegi Kim: Department of Civil and Environmental System Engineering, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 143-701, Korea
Kunio Yoshikawa: Department of Environmental Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226-8503, Japan
Ki Young Park: Department of Civil and Environmental System Engineering, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 143-701, Korea

Energies, 2015, vol. 8, issue 12, 1-9

Abstract: The effect of hydrothermal carbonization on the properties of cellulose present in lignocellulosic biomass was investigated for converting it into a renewable energy resource with high energy recovery efficiency. The biochar obtained from cellulose subjected to hydrothermal carbonization showed a significant increase in its carbon content and a calorific value. 13 C NMR spectroscopy showed that when raw cellulose was subjected to hydrothermal carbonization above 220 °C, the resulting biochar had more aromatic and aliphatic fractions than those in raw cellulose. The resulting composition of the biochars was comparable to that of solid fuels and was between that of lignite and sub-bituminous coal. Therefore, cellulose, the main component of lignocellulosic biomass, was used to investigate the effects of varying the reaction temperature during hydrothermal carbonization. The energy recovery efficiency calculations showed that the optimum reaction temperature for the transformation of a mixture of cellulose was approximately 220 °C.

Keywords: lignocellulosic biomass; cellulose; biochar; upgrading solid fuel; hydrothermal carbonization; energy recovery (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: 2015
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (12)

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