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Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) is a promising thermochemical method used to upgrade herbaceous biomass for high-grade fuel. However, the technique yields large amounts of organic process wastewater (PW), which must be properly disposed or reused. In this work, PW was used as water source to prepare HTC feedstock. The evolution of the chemical structure and formation mechanism of hydrochar over the course of four PW recycles were demonstrated by experimental determination of the chemical compositions, equilibrium moisture contents, carbon structures, functional groups, and micro morphologies of the biomass (cornstalk in this study) and resulting hydrochars. The chemical reaction pathways induced during the HTC of biomass was established on the basis of the evolution of the chemical characteristics of the hydrochars and organic components of PW. The results showed significant improvements in the fuel quality of hydrochar as the number of PW recycles increased. The higher heating value, mass yield, and energy recovery efficiency of the hydrochars increased to 23.31 MJ/kg, 62.16%, and 86.24%, respectively, after four PW recycles because PW recycling facilitates the conversion of biomass into a hydrochar matrix with a high carbonization degree and polymerization of intermediates into microspheres. As the number of PW recycles increased, the relative content of furan compounds in the aqueous product decreased and the content of aromatic compounds increased. Further analysis of the aqueous products revealed the polymerization of furfural and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural into aromatic compounds and inhibition of the direct polymerization of aldehydes into aromatic compounds. The results of this work provide a theoretical basis for studying the chemical reaction and evolution mechanism of herbaceous biomass during HTC with recycled PW. Image 1 • PW was recycled to reduce its discharge and the water consumption for HTC. • More microspheres were produced due to polymerization of organic intermediates. • The microspheres have higher reactive oxygen functional groups than the matrix. • About 10% of dissolved organics in PW polymerized again and formed solid particles. • The polymerization of aldehydes into aromatics was inhibited when PW was recycled. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) is a promising approach for the fuel upgrading of moist biomass wastes. However, its effects on high-ash municipal sewage sludge (HA-MSS), which is produced largely in China, are unclear. In this study, HA-MSS was treated at various temperatures from 170 °C to 350 °C. The fuel characteristics of hydrochar products, namely, chemical compositions; heat value; water-holding capacity; mineral components; and chemical bonding forms of carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur, were comprehensively discussed. Low-temperature HTC below 260 °C decreased the amounts but only slightly changed the species of mineral components in HA-MSS. However, temperatures exceeding 290 °C removed some alkali and alkaline earth minerals completely and formed a new species, namely, anorthite (CaAl 2 Si 2 O 8). In terms of fuel characteristics, 230 °C was determined to be the optimal temperature for the HTC of HA-MSS. At this temperature, the HA-MSS was upgraded to a hydrochar with a large higher heating value and good dewaterability. When the hydrochars were combusted, SO 2 and NO x were mainly released during the devolatilization stage of fragile volatiles. With the increase in HTC temperature, the releasing peak of SO 2 decreased. However, for hydrochars obtained at HTC temperatures lower than 260 °C, the releasing peaks of NO x showed only a small difference. • High ash municipal sewage sludge (HA-MSS) was upgraded by HTC for a solid fuel. • 230 °C was the optimal HTC temperature for the fuel upgrading of HA-MSS. • HTC below 260 °C decreased the amount but change little on species of minerals. • The thermal sensitive N- and S- functional groups were removed or stabilized. • SO 2 and NO x were mainly released during the combustion period of fragile volatile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]