Rising human population and technology advancements have presented global challenges such as increased energy demand and need for the sustainable management of biowaste. Hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) is especially favorable for valoraztion of wet biowaste as it uses the innate water content of high-moisture feedstocks as a reaction medium. In this study, a pilot-scale continuous plug flow reactor was used for the conversion of two types of food waste, one from a industry food processing plant and one from a grocery market. Mass yields of 64.78 and 66.91 wt%, energy yields of 70.77 and 68.17%, and carbon yields of 64.78 and 66.91 wt% were obtained, respectively. Physicochemical characterization of the biocrude was carried out, including elemental analysis (CHNOS), higher heating value (HHV), qualitative gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), total acid number (TAN), density, and kinematic viscosity. Successful HTL processing of feedstocks with varied biochemical composition was observed, producing biocrude oil well-suited for downstream upgrading such as hydrotreating.

Pilot-scale hydrothermal liquefaction of wet biowaste

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