Abstract

Differences in ash behavior during hydrothermal treatment were identified based on multivariate data analysis of literature information on 29 different feedstock. In addition, the solubility of individual elements was evaluated based on a smaller data set. As a result two different groups were distinguished based on char ash content and ash yield. Virgin terrestrial and aquatic biomass, such as different types of wood and algae, in addition to herbaceous and agricultural biomass, bark, brewer's spent grain, compost and faecal waste showed lower char ash content than municipal solid wastes, anaerobic digestion residues and municipal and industrial sludge. Lower char ash content also correlated with lower ash yield indicating differences in chemical composition and ash solubility. Further evaluation of available data showed that ash in industrial sludge mainly contained anthropogenic Al, Fe and P or Ca and Si with low solubility during hydrothermal treatment. Char from corn stover, miscanthus, switch grass, rice hulls, olive, artichoke and orange wastes and empty fruit bunch had generally higher contents of K, Mg, S and Si than industrial sludge although differences existed within the group. In the future information on ash behavior should be used for enhancing the fuel properties of char based on feedstock type and hydrothermal treatment conditions. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Keywords

Biomass; Char; Hydrothermal carbonization; Principal component analysis; Waste; Wet torrefaction

Published in

Energy Conversion and Management
2016, Volume: 121, pages: 402-408
Publisher: PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

SLU Authors

• Mäkelä, Mikko

  • Department of Forest Biomaterials and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    
  • Tokyo Institute of Technology

UKÄ Subject classification

Other Chemistry Topics


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2016.05.016

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/77608