Upgrading the Organic Fraction of Municipal Solid Waste by Low Temperature Hydrothermal Processes

Gregor Sailer, Victoria Knappe, Jens Poetsch, Sebastian Paczkowski, Stefan Pelz, Hans Oechsner, Monika Bosilj, Siham Ouardi and Joachim Müller
Additional contact information
Gregor Sailer: Department of Bioenergy, University of Applied Forest Sciences Rottenburg, Schadenweilerhof, 72108 Rottenburg, Germany
Victoria Knappe: Department of Bioenergy, University of Applied Forest Sciences Rottenburg, Schadenweilerhof, 72108 Rottenburg, Germany
Jens Poetsch: Department of Bioenergy, University of Applied Forest Sciences Rottenburg, Schadenweilerhof, 72108 Rottenburg, Germany
Sebastian Paczkowski: Department of Forest Work Science and Engineering, Faculty of Forest Sciences and Forest Ecology, University of Göttingen, Büsgenweg 4, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
Stefan Pelz: Department of Bioenergy, University of Applied Forest Sciences Rottenburg, Schadenweilerhof, 72108 Rottenburg, Germany
Hans Oechsner: State Institute of Agricultural Engineering and Bioenergy, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstrasse 9, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
Monika Bosilj: Sustainable Catalytic Materials Group, Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE, Heidenhofstraße 2, 79110 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
Siham Ouardi: Sustainable Catalytic Materials Group, Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE, Heidenhofstraße 2, 79110 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
Joachim Müller: Tropics and Subtropics Group, Institute of Agricultural Engineering, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstrasse 9, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 11, 1-16

Abstract: In comparison to lignocellulosic biomass, which is suitable for thermo-chemical valorization, the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) is mainly treated via composting or anaerobic digestion (AD). An efficient utilization of OFMSW is difficult due to variations in its composition. Based on the characteristics of OFMSW, hydrothermal treatment (HTT) experiments at temperatures < 200 °C as an alternative OFMSW-processing were evaluated in this study. The raw OFMSW was characterized with a dry matter (DM)-based organic dry matter (oDM) content of 77.88 ± 1.37 % DM and a higher heating value (HHV) of 15,417 ± 1258 J/g DM . Through HTT at 150, 170 and 185 °C, the oDM contents as well as H/C and O/C ratios were lowered while the HHV increased up to 16,716 ± 257 J/g DM . HTT led to improved fuel properties concerning ash melting, corrosion stress and emission behavior. Negative consequences of the HTT process were higher contents of ash in the biochar as well as accumulated heavy metals. In the sense of a bioeconomy, it could be beneficial to first convert raw OFMSW into CH 4 through AD followed by HTT of the AD-digestate for the generation of solid fuels and liquid products. This could increase the overall utilization efficiency of OFMSW.

Keywords: biowaste; OFMSW; municipal waste; hydrothermal carbonization; waste treatment; biomass upgrading; biochar; biofuels; thermochemical valorization; anaerobic digestion (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: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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