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Hydrothermal Carbonization as a Valuable Tool for Energy and Environmental Applications: A Review

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  • Manfredi Picciotto Maniscalco

    (Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Kore University of Enna, Cittadella Universitaria, 94100 Enna, Italy)

  • Maurizio Volpe

    (Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Kore University of Enna, Cittadella Universitaria, 94100 Enna, Italy)

  • Antonio Messineo

    (Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Kore University of Enna, Cittadella Universitaria, 94100 Enna, Italy)

Abstract

Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) represents an efficient and valuable pre-treatment technology to convert waste biomass into highly dense carbonaceous materials that could be used in a wide range of applications between energy, environment, soil improvement and nutrients recovery fields. HTC converts residual organic materials into a solid high energy dense material (hydrochar) and a liquid residue where the most volatile and oxygenated compounds (mainly furans and organic acids) concentrate during reaction. Pristine hydrochar is mainly used for direct combustion, to generate heat or electricity, but highly porous carbonaceous media for energy storage or for adsorption of pollutants applications can be also obtained through a further activation stage. HTC process can be used to enhance recovery of nutrients as nitrogen and phosphorous in particular and can be used as soil conditioner, to favor plant growth and mitigate desertification of soils. The present review proposes an outlook of the several possible applications of hydrochar produced from any sort of waste biomass sources. For each of the applications proposed, the main operative parameters that mostly affect the hydrochar properties and characteristics are highlighted, in order to match the needs for the specific application.

Suggested Citation

  • Manfredi Picciotto Maniscalco & Maurizio Volpe & Antonio Messineo, 2020. "Hydrothermal Carbonization as a Valuable Tool for Energy and Environmental Applications: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-26, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:13:y:2020:i:16:p:4098-:d:396014
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    6. Michela Lucian & Fabio Merzari & Michele Gubert & Antonio Messineo & Maurizio Volpe, 2021. "Industrial-Scale Hydrothermal Carbonization of Agro-Industrial Digested Sludge: Filterability Enhancement and Phosphorus Recovery," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-15, August.
    7. Antonio Picone & Maurizio Volpe & Antonio Messineo, 2021. "Process Water Recirculation during Hydrothermal Carbonization of Waste Biomass: Current Knowledge and Challenges," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-14, May.
    8. Maria A. Vasileiadou & Georgia Altiparmaki & Konstantinos Moustakas & Stergios Vakalis, 2022. "Quality of Hydrochar from Wine Sludge under Variable Conditions of Hydrothermal Carbonization: The Case of Lesvos Island," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-12, May.
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    10. Wei, Yingyuan & Fakudze, Sandile & Zhang, Yiming & Ma, Ru & Shang, Qianqian & Chen, Jianqiang & Liu, Chengguo & Chu, Qiulu, 2022. "Co-hydrothermal carbonization of pomelo peel and PVC for production of hydrochar pellets with enhanced fuel properties and dechlorination," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(PD).
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    12. M. Toufiq Reza, 2022. "Hydrothermal Carbonization," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-3, July.
    13. Paola Navid García-Hernández & José Martín Baas-López & Tanit Toledano-Thompson & Ruby Valdez-Ojeda & Daniella Pacheco-Catalán, 2021. "Revalorization of Pleurotus djamor Fungus Culture: Fungus-Derived Carbons for Supercapacitor Application," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-18, September.
    14. Nourhen Hsini & Vahid Saadattalab & Xia Wang & Nawres Gharred & Hatem Dhaouadi & Sonia Dridi-Dhaouadi & Niklas Hedin, 2022. "Activated Carbons Produced from Hydrothermally Carbonized Prickly Pear Seed Waste," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-17, November.
    15. Wądrzyk, Mariusz & Korzeniowski, Łukasz & Plata, Marek & Janus, Rafał & Lewandowski, Marek & Michalik, Marek & Magdziarz, Aneta, 2023. "Pyrolysis of hydrochars obtained from blackcurrant pomace in single and binary solvent systems," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 214(C), pages 383-394.
    16. Pongsun Bunditsakulchai & Chen Liu, 2021. "Integrated Strategies for Household Food Waste Reduction in Bangkok," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-21, July.
    17. Gregor Sailer & Julian Comi & Florian Empl & Martin Silberhorn & Valeska Heymann & Monika Bosilj & Siham Ouardi & Stefan Pelz & Joachim Müller, 2022. "Hydrothermal Treatment of Residual Forest Wood (Softwood) and Digestate from Anaerobic Digestion—Influence of Temperature and Holding Time on the Characteristics of the Solid and Liquid Products," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-26, May.
    18. Siti Zaharah Roslan & Siti Fairuz Zainudin & Alijah Mohd Aris & Khor Bee Chin & Mohibah Musa & Ahmad Rafizan Mohamad Daud & Syed Shatir A. Syed Hassan, 2023. "Hydrothermal Carbonization of Sewage Sludge into Solid Biofuel: Influences of Process Conditions on the Energetic Properties of Hydrochar," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-16, March.
    19. Md Tahmid Islam & Al Ibtida Sultana & Cadianne Chambers & Swarna Saha & Nepu Saha & Kawnish Kirtania & M. Toufiq Reza, 2022. "Recent Progress on Emerging Applications of Hydrochar," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(24), pages 1-45, December.
    20. Raziye Kul & Ertan Yıldırım & Melek Ekinci & Metin Turan & Sezai Ercisli, 2022. "Effect of Biochar and Process Water Derived from the Co-Processed Sewage Sludge and Food Waste on Garden Cress’ Growth and Quality," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-21, December.
    21. Paritosh, Kunwar & Bose, Archishman, 2024. "Application of biogenic carbon in renewable energy vectors and devices: A step forward to decarbonization," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 197(C).

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