Proof-of-Concept of Spent Mushrooms Compost Torrefaction—Studying the Process Kinetics and the Influence of Temperature and Duration on the Calorific Value of the Produced Biocoal

Ewa Syguła, Jacek A. Koziel and Andrzej Białowiec
Additional contact information
Ewa Syguła: Faculty of Life Sciences and Technology, Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 37/41 Chełmońskiego Str., 51-630 Wroclaw, Poland
Jacek A. Koziel: Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
Andrzej Białowiec: Faculty of Life Sciences and Technology, Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 37/41 Chełmońskiego Str., 51-630 Wroclaw, Poland

Energies, 2019, vol. 12, issue 16, 1-19

Abstract: Poland, being the 3rd largest and growing producer of mushrooms in the world, generates almost 25% of the total European production. The generation rate of waste mushroom spent compost ( MSC ) amounts to 5 kg per 1 kg of mushrooms produced. We proposed the MSC treatment via torrefaction for the production of solid fuel—biocoal. In this research, we examined the MSC torrefaction kinetics using thermogravimetric analyses (TGA) and we tested the influence of torrefaction temperature within the range from 200 to 300 °C and treatment time lasting from 20 to 60 min on the resulting biocoal’s (fuel) properties. The estimated value of the torrefaction activation energy of MSC was 22.3 kJ mol ?1 . The highest calorific value = 17.9 MJ kg ?1 d.m. was found for 280 °C (60 min torrefaction time). A significant ( p < 0.05) influence of torrefaction temperature on HHV increase within the same group of torrefaction duration, i.e., 20, 40, or 60 min, was observed. The torrefaction duration significantly ( p < 0.05) increased the HHV for 220 °C and decreased HHV for 300 °C. The highest mass yield (98.5%) was found for 220 °C (60 min), while the highest energy yield was found for 280 °C (60 min). In addition, estimations of the biocoal recirculation rate to maintain the heat self-sufficiency of MSC torrefaction were made. The net quantity of biocoal (torrefied MSC ; 65.3% moisture content) and the 280 °C (60 min) torrefaction variant was used. The initial mass and energy balance showed that MSC torrefaction might be feasible and self-sufficient for heat when ~43.6% of produced biocoal is recirculated to supply the heat for torrefaction. Thus, we have shown a concept for an alternative utilization of abundant biowaste ( MSC ). This research provides a basis for alternative use of an abundant biowaste and can help charting improved, sustainable mushroom production.

Keywords: waste to energy; waste to carbon; mushroom spent compost; biocoal; torrefaction; activation energy; fuel properties; circular economy (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: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/12/16/3060/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/12/16/3060/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jeners:v:12:y:2019:i:16:p:3060-:d:255958

Access Statistics for this article

Energies is currently edited by Ms. Agatha Cao

More articles in Energies from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().