Hydrothermal Liquefaction is a thermochemical process that uses high heat and pressure (&gt;300°C and 1450psi) to convert various biowastes into renewable biocrude oil, simultaneously both generating a metal and phosphorus rich solid phase and a nutrient rich, toxic aqueous phase. One critical bottleneck for this technology is process economics because of transport of feedstock to the processing site and final product to the refinery. Thus, a pilot scale mobile reactor was designed and constructed to travel between waste production and collection hubs for onsite conversion. However, modification of the system and infrastructure limitations present complications in establishing optimal safety and work conditions. In consideration of expanding this technology and its application, we evaluate several hazards starting from substrate procurement to product collection, handling, and transport with respect to biological, chemical, physical, and environmental concerns, as well as highlighting measures that can be taken to improve these conditions in the context of pyrolytic waste to energy technologies. Furthermore, we take some of these factors and appropriate solutions into consideration for a technoeconomic analysis (TEA) and life-cycle analysis (LCA) to compare the applied use of this scaled-up technology and its mobile counterpart. This case serves to discuss the implications of adapting technologies and working environments to serve industry and research contexts.

Safety design and operation procedures for off-campus/mobile research on scaled biowaste-to-energy systems: Study of pilot scale hydrothermal liquefaction

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.