title: Influence of process water quality on hydrothermal carbonization of cellulose.
abstract: Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) is a thermal conversion process that has been shown to be environmentally and energetically advantageous for the conversion of wet feedstocks. Supplemental moisture, usually in the form of pure water, is added during carbonization to achieve feedstock submersion. To improve process sustainability, it is important to consider alternative supplemental moisture sources. Liquid waste streams may be ideal alternative liquid source candidates. Experiments were conducted to systematically evaluate how changes in pH, ionic strength, and organic carbon content of the initial process water influences cellulose carbonization. Results from the experiments conducted evaluating the influence of process water quality on carbonization indicate that changes in initial water quality do influence time-dependent carbonization product composition and yields. These results also suggest that using municipal and industrial wastewaters, with the exception of streams with high CaCl2 concentrations, may impart little influence on final carbonization products/yields.
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of South Carolina, 300 Main Street, Columbia, SC 29208, United States.
authors.forename: Xiaowei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of South Carolina, 300 Main Street, Columbia, SC 29208, United States.
authors.forename: Joseph R V
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Flora
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of South Carolina, 300 Main Street, Columbia, SC 29208, United States. Electronic address: berge@cec.sc.edu.
authors.forename: Nicole D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Berge
mesh_terms: D019342:Acetic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D002482:Cellulose / Q000737:chemistry*; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors; D014867:Water / Q000494:pharmacology*; D060753:Water Quality
chemical_list: D014867:Water; D002244:Carbon; D002482:Cellulose; D019342:Acetic Acid
keywords: Hydrothermal carbonization; Organics; Process water; Salt; pH