Hydrothermal carbonization of medical wastes and lignocellulosic biomass for solid fuel production from lab-scale to pilot-scale

Yafei Shen, Shili Yu, Shun Ge, Xingming Chen, Xinlei Ge and Mindong Chen

Energy, 2017, vol. 118, issue C, 312-323

Abstract: An alternative way has been proposed for the PVC-containing medical wastes valorization by co-hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) with lignocellulosic biomass. The organic-Cl in PVC can be converted to the inorganic-Cl via hydrolysis, defunctionalization, recondensation, and aromatization in the HTC process. Followed by the washing process with the condensed water, the inorganic-Cl with high water-solubility could be removed from the solid products (i.e. hydrochar). Lignin as a biomass component can significantly improve the dechlorination efficiency of PVC in the HTC process. Here, the dechlorination performance of lignocellulosic components is given as the following order: lignin > cellulose > hemicellulose. In addition, lignin can adjust the particle sizes of solid products by inhibiting the agglomeration in the order of lignin > hemicellulose > cellulose. In the pilot-scale HTC process, the addition of woodchips improves the dechlorination efficiency of hospital wastes (HW). The hydrochar particles with low-chlorine content and higher heating value could be used as a clean coal-alternative fuel.

Keywords: Dechlorination; Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC); PVC; Lignocellulosic biomass; Solid fuels (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (23)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:energy:v:118:y:2017:i:c:p:312-323

DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2016.12.047

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