Year: 2019
Type: article
Abstract: Hydrothermal carbonization converts organics in aqueous suspension to a mixture of liquid components and carbon-rich solids (hydrochars), which in turn can be processed into activated carbons. We investigated whether milk could be used as a medium for hydrothermal carbonization, and found that hydrochars prepared from milk, with or without an added fibrous biomass, contained more carbon (particularly aliphatic carbon), less oxygen, and more mineral components than those prepared from fibrous biomass in water. Activated carbons produced from hydrochars generated in milk had lower specific surface areas and CO2 capacities than those from hydrochars formed in water; however, these differences disappeared upon normalizing to the combustible mass of the solid. Thus, in the context of N2 and CO2 uptake on activated carbons, the primary effect of using milk rather than water to form the hydrochar precursor was to contribute inorganic mass that adsorbed little CO2. Nevertheless, some of the activated carbons generated from hydrochars formed in milk had specific CO2 uptake capacities in the normal range for activated carbons prepared by activation in CO2 (here, up to 1.6 mmol g−1 CO2 at 15 kPa and 0 °C). Thus, hydrothermal carbonization could be used to convert waste milk to hydrochars and activated carbons.
Source: Scientific Reports
Authors: Salwa Haj Yahia, Kian Keat Lee, Brahim Ayed, Niklas Hedin, Tamara L. Church
Institutions: Stockholm University, University of Gabès, University of Monastir
Language: English
Subfield: Fuel Technology
Field: Energy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,790
Awards: Microporous polymers for the upgrading of biogas via molecular separation or the catalytic transformation of carbon dioxide to methanol, G302220085, G327716661, G3482361705, G3874296593, G434337789, G5135559304, G6031631900, Advanced Carbon Materials from Biowaste: Sustainable Pathways to Drive Innovative Green Technologies
OpenAlex ID: W2983662908