Properties of Hydrochar as Function of Feedstock, Reaction Conditions and Post-Treatment

Andrea Kruse and Thomas A. Zevaco
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Andrea Kruse: Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Chair of Conversion Technologies of Biobased Resources, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstrasse 9, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
Thomas A. Zevaco: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute for Catalysis Research and Technology, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany

Energies, 2018, vol. 11, issue 3, 1-12

Abstract: Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) is a promising technology to convert wet biomass into carbon-rich materials. Until now, the chemical processes occurring and their influence on the product properties are not well understood. Therefore, a target-oriented production of materials with defined properties is difficult, if not impossible. Here, model compounds such as cellulose and lignin, as well as different definite biomasses such as straw and beech wood are converted by hydrothermal carbonization. Following this, thermogravimetic (TGA) and FTIR measurements are used to get information about chemical structure and thermal properties of the related hydrochars. Some of the isolated materials are thermally post-treated (490 °C and 700 °C) and analyzed. The results show that at “mild” HTC conversion, the cellulose part in a lignocellulose matrix is not completely carbonized and there is still cellulose present. Thermal post-treatment makes the properties of product materials more similar and shows complete carbonization with increase aromatic cross-linking, proven by TGA and FTIR results.

Keywords: hydrothermal carbonization (HTC); hydrothermal; carbonization; cellulose; lignin; thermogravimetric analysis; differential thermogravimetry (DTG); Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) (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: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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