title: Hydrothermal carbonization of anaerobically digested maize silage.
abstract: Hydrochars were prepared by hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) of maize silage previously treated at 55 °C in a two-stage solid-state reactor system. The HTC was carried out in a 1-L stirred pressure reactor with pH regulation by citric acid. The treated silage carbonized at relatively mild conditions (190 °C, 2 h), and the hydrochars showed mainly amorphous macro-size features with a carbon content of 59-79% (ash-free, dry) and a higher heating value of 25-36 MJ kg⁻¹. Temperature was the main influencing factor. The surface area according to Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis was highest at 190 °C (12.3 m²) g⁻¹). Based on these results, the hydrochars are potentially interesting for applications such as an alternative fuel or a soil conditioner.
authors.affiliation: Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering Potsdam-Bornim, Max-Eyth-Allee 100, 14469 Potsdam, Germany. jmumme@atb-potsdam.de
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mumme
authors.forename: Lion
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Eckervogt
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pielert
authors.forename: Mamadou
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Diakité
authors.forename: Fabian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rupp
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kern
mesh_terms: D056804:Biofuels; D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D002482:Cellulose / Q000737:chemistry; D019343:Citric Acid; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008031:Lignin / Q000737:chemistry; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012820:Silage; D003313:Zea mays / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D019343:Citric Acid; D002244:Carbon; D002482:Cellulose; D008031:Lignin