A Mini-Review: Biowaste-Derived Fuel Pellet by Hydrothermal Carbonization Followed by Pelletizing

Rhea Gallant, Aitazaz A. Farooque, Sophia He, Kang Kang and Yulin Hu ()
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Rhea Gallant: Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, PE C1A 4P3, Canada
Aitazaz A. Farooque: Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, PE C1A 4P3, Canada
Sophia He: Department of Engineering, Dalhousie University, Truro, NS B2N 5E3, Canada
Kang Kang: Biorefinery Research Institute, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, ON P7B 5E1, Canada
Yulin Hu: Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, PE C1A 4P3, Canada

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 19, 1-18

Abstract: This review article focuses on recent studies using hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) for producing hydrochar and its potential application as a solid fuel pellet. Due to the depletion of fossil fuels and increasing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the need for carbon-neutral fuel sources has increased. Another environmental concern relates to the massive amount of industrial processing and municipal solid waste, which are often underutilized and end up in landfills to cause further environmental damage. HTC is an appealing approach to valorizing wet biomass into valuable bioproducts (e.g., hydrochar), with improved properties. In this review, the effects of the main HTC reaction parameters, including reaction temperature, residence time, and feedstock to water ratio on the properties and yield of hydrochar are described. Following this, the pelletizing of hydrochar to prepare fuel pellets is discussed by reviewing the influences of applied pressure, processing time, pellet aspect ratio, moisture content of the hydrochar, and the type and dosage of binder on the quality of the resulting fuel pellet. Overall, this review can provide research updates and useful insights regarding the preparation of biowaste-derived solid fuel pellets.

Keywords: hydrothermal carbonization; pelletizing; biomass; organic waste; hydrochar; fuel pellet (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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