Hydrothermal conversion of biomass to carbon materials with phosphate recovery
Substitution of fossil fuels and sustainable use of minerals like phosphates are growing demands due to occurring environmental problems. Furthermore, eutrophication and depletion of non-renewable resources is a striking problem caused by agricultural and municipal “wastes”. To solve these problems, biorefinery concepts are developed to recover valuable products from agricultural wastes. These allow the closing of the material cycles, unburdening of the environment and saving of fossil fuels.
This research subject focusses on the hydrolysis of plant material as part of the HTC process. Products like chars are evaluated concerning their use as advanced carbon materials for electrode materials and activated carbon. Adsorbed on these particles are phosphates which can be recovered as struvite, a direct fertilizer. Effects on the equilibria of reactions, conditions and concentrations are examined to prepare the scale up of the whole process.
