Hydrothermal liquefaction: Transforming waste into renewable fuels and high-value bio-chemicals

Tumpa R. Sarker, Bristy Sarker, Biswajit Saha, Mst. Lucky Khatun and Ajay K. Dalai

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2025, vol. 222, issue C

Abstract: Lignocellulose, being abundant, eco-friendly, and sustainable, shows great potential as a replacement for fossil fuels. Hydrothermal liquefaction is a highly effective method for converting biomass into liquid fuels and valuable chemicals. This review uniquely compiles and compares the reaction pathways of individual biomass components (cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, lipids, and proteins), offering mechanistic insights not often found collectively in the literature. Additionally, it presents a comprehensive evaluation of the influence of process parameters such as the types of feedstocks, temperature, heating rate, retention time, pressure, solid-to-liquid ratio, and catalysts on HTL product distribution. Furthermore, the upgradation techniques for upgrading biocrude to various valuable biofuels and platform chemicals were extensively explored. The review also integrates techno-economic and life cycle assessment findings, providing a holistic view of HTL's industrial feasibility. These consolidated insights help identify key challenges and future directions for enhancing HTL technology, making this review a valuable reference for both researchers and practitioners.

Keywords: Hydrothermal liquefaction; Biofuels; Platform chemicals; Upgradation; Technoeconomic analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2025.115974

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