Liquid-solid ratio during hydrothermal carbonization affects hydrochar application potential in soil: Based on characteristics comparison and economic benefit analysis

Hongyu Si; Changkai Zhao; Bing Wang; Xiaohui Liang; Mingjie Gao; Zhaoxia Jiang; Hewei Yu; Yuanyuan Yang; Zhijie Gu; Kenji Ogino; Xiuxiu Chen

doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117567

Liquid-solid ratio during hydrothermal carbonization affects hydrochar application potential in soil: Based on characteristics comparison and economic benefit analysis

J Environ Manage. 2023 Jun 1:335:117567. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117567. Epub 2023 Feb 27.

Authors

Hongyu Si¹, Changkai Zhao¹, Bing Wang², Xiaohui Liang¹, Mingjie Gao¹, Zhaoxia Jiang¹, Hewei Yu¹, Yuanyuan Yang³, Zhijie Gu⁴, Kenji Ogino⁴, Xiuxiu Chen⁵

Affiliations

¹ Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomass Gasification Technology, Energy Research Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, 250014, China.
² Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomass Gasification Technology, Energy Research Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, 250014, China; Graduate School of Bio-Applications and Systems Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16 Nakacho, Koganei-shi, Tokyo, 184-8588, Japan. Electronic address: s205024v@st.go.tuat.ac.jp.
³ Shandong Artificial Intelligence Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, 250014, China.
⁴ Graduate School of Bio-Applications and Systems Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16 Nakacho, Koganei-shi, Tokyo, 184-8588, Japan.
⁵ Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomass Gasification Technology, Energy Research Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, 250014, China. Electronic address: chenxx@sderi.cn.

PMID: 36857889
DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117567

Abstract

Returning straw-like agricultural waste to the field by converting it into hydrochar through hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) is an important way to realize resource utilization of waste, soil improvement, and carbon sequestration. However, the large-scale HTC is highly limited by the large water consumption and waste liquid pollution. Here, we propose strategies to optimize the liquid-solid ratio (LSR) of HTC, and comprehensively evaluate the stability, soil application potential, and economic benefits of corn stover-based hydrochar under different LSRs. The results showed that the total amount of dissolved organic carbon of hydrochars increased by 55.0% as LSR reducing from 10:1 to 2:1, while the element content, thermal stability, carbon fixation potential, specific surface area, pore volume, and functional group type were not obviously affected. The specific surface area and pore volume of hydrochar decreased by 61.8% and 70.9% as LSR reduced to 1:1, due to incomplete carbonization. According to the gray relation, hydrochar derived at LSR of 10:1 and followed by 2:1 showed greatest relation degree of 0.80 and 0.70, respectively, indicating better soil application potential. However, reducing LSR from 10:1 to 2:1 made the income of single process production increased from -388 to 968 ¥, and the wastewater generation decreased by 80%. Considering the large-scale application of HTC in fields for farmland improvement and environmental remediation, the comprehensive advantages of optimized LSR will be further highlighted.

Keywords: Corn straw hydrochar; Cost-benefit analysis; Hydrothermal carbonization; Liquid-solid ratio; Soil application.

MeSH terms

Carbon Sequestration
Carbon*
Soil*
Temperature
Wastewater
Zea mays

Substances

Carbon
Soil
Wastewater