A new approach to stabilize waste biomass for valorization using an oxidative process at 90 °C

PLoS One. 2018 Apr 23;13(4):e0196249. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0196249. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

This study aimed to establish a new methodology for upgrading biomass quality using low-temperature (below 100 °C) oxidation to achieve simultaneous drying and decomposition. Sterilized manure (63% wet basis) was heated at 90 °C for 49 days under an oxidative environment. The obtained solid and moisture reduction curves indicated that drying and decomposition proceeded simultaneously. The biomass was decomposed by oxidation with the release of water, carbon dioxide, and volatile fatty acids such as acetic acid. The oxidation process stopped when the biomass was dehydrated, indicating that the water originally present in the biomass governed the process. Elemental and calorific analyses revealed no remarkable increase in carbon content or increased heating value, and a slight decrease in oxygen content. Although the severity of the process was insufficient to produce an optimum solid fuel due to the low temperature used, the process would enable the stabilization of waste biomass with low energy consumption such as using waste heat.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biofuels* / economics
  • Biofuels* / standards
  • Biomass*
  • Cattle
  • Commerce
  • Conservation of Energy Resources / economics
  • Dairying / economics
  • Dairying / methods
  • Desiccation / methods*
  • Heating
  • Hot Temperature*
  • Manure
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Quality Control
  • Recycling
  • Waste Management / economics
  • Waste Management / methods*
  • Waste Management / standards

Substances

  • Biofuels
  • Manure

Grants and funding

This study was supported by Tanigurogumi Corporation, Japan, and by Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) KAKENHI (No. 26292130 to K.I. and No. 17J00272 to T.I.), http://www.jsps.go.jp/english/. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.