Title:
Potential of Hydrothermal Carbonization Route to Enhance the Combustion-related Properties of Bamboo
Author(s):
Chiocchini, M., Monedero, E., Hernández, J.J., Antonetti, C., Licursi, D.
Document(s):
Paper
Abstract:
In this study, hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) was proposed as an effective thermal pre-treatment for enhancing the quality of bamboo species. This goal was achieved by solubilization of the most problematic alkali metals, thus improving the next use of the pre-treated biomass in combustion processes. Three different HTC temperatures (160, 180 and 200 ºC) and reaction times (1, 4, and 8 hours) were chosen as boundary conditions, keeping constant the biomass loading (10 wt%). The starting biomass and corresponding HTC-derived solids were characterized for the chemical compositions and proximate analysis. Additionally, the estimation of ash composition (before and after HTC treatment), along with the fouling and slagging trends, were considered, to quantify the effectiveness of the HTC towards the solubilization of inorganics elements. Mild HTC conditions, 160 ºC and 1 h residence time, were proved as the most appropriate to maximize the removal of boosting fouling inorganics (mainly potassium, but also sodium. magnesium, and phosphorous as the main probe elements of interest), at the same time keeping a lower energy cost. In this context, the fouling index of the HTC-pretreated biomass obtained under the best identified reaction conditions (0.27) was much lower than that obtained from the raw bamboo (0.91), thus demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed pre-treatment for improving the combustion properties. This approach is not limitedly aimed at the improvement of the combustion properties of the starting biomass but also opens the way to a more developed biorefinery scheme, involving fractionation and conversion of the structural macrostructural components of biomass, through thermochemical processes that may be sensitive to the relevant presence of inorganics.
Keywords:
bamboo, combustion, ashes, wood crops, levulinic acid, hydrothermal carbonization
Topic:
Biomass Conversion for Bioenergy
Subtopic:
Biomass pre-treatment and production of intermediates
Event:
33rd European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
4CO.15.1
Pages:
691 - 694
ISBN:
978-88-89407-25-7
Paper DOI:
10.5071/33rdEUBCE2025-4CO.15.1
Price:
FREE
