Microwave-assisted and conventional hydrothermal carbonization of lignocellulosic waste material: comparison of the chemical and structural properties of the hydrochars

Elaigwu, Sunday E.; Greenway, Gillian M.

Abstract

This study compares the chemical and structural properties of the hydrochars prepared from microwave-assisted and conventional hydrothermal carbonizations of Prosopis africana shell, a waste plant material. The preparation involved heating the raw material in de-ionized water at 200 °C for 5-20 min, and 120-240 min in the microwave and conventional oven respectively. The prepared hydrochars were characterized using the scanning electron microscope, nitrogen sorption measurement, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, CHN analyzer, thermogravimetric analysis, and nuclear magnetic resonance. The results showed that the microwave-assisted hydrothermal carbonization process is fast in the carbonization of the Prosopis africana shell as shown by the level of conversion attained within the short time. This study presents new data on the comparison of the hydrochars from microwave-assisted and conventional hydrothermal carbonization processes of the same lignocellulosic material in terms of their properties.

Citation

Elaigwu, S. E., & Greenway, G. M. (2016). Microwave-assisted and conventional hydrothermal carbonization of lignocellulosic waste material: comparison of the chemical and structural properties of the hydrochars. Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis, 118, 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaap.2015.12.013

• Acceptance Date: Dec 5, 2015
• Online Publication Date: Dec 21, 2015
• Publication Date: 2016-03
• Deposit Date: Mar 21, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 21, 2016
• Journal: Journal of analytical and applied pyrolysis
• Print ISSN: 0165-2370
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 118
• Pages: 1-8
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaap.2015.12.013
• Keywords: Microwave; Hydrothermal carbonization; Carbonized material; Prosopis africana shell
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/433898
• Publisher URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016523701530098X
• Additional Information: Authors' accepted manuscript of article published in: Journal of analytical and applied pyrolysis, 2016, v.118
• Contract Date: Mar 21, 2016