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Updated: Jul 18, 2026
07:34
Evaluation of Integrated Anaerobic Digestion and Hydrothermal Carbonization for Bioenergy Production
Published on: June 15, 2014
25.6K
Lab-scale engineered hydrochar production and techno-economic scaling-up analysis
Kannan Nadarajah1, Oscar M Rodriguez-Narvaez2, Jerome Ramirez3
1Department of Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka.
Waste Management (New York, N.Y.)
|December 23, 2023
Summary
Engineered hydrochar (EHC) production from rice straw via hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) is feasible for scale-up. The simulated process shows a low minimum selling price and high adsorption capacity for contaminants like Congo Red.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Environmental Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
Background:
- Engineered hydrochar (EHC) shows promise for water contaminant adsorption.
- Current EHC production technologies are at a low Technology Readiness Level (TRL) due to scale-up uncertainties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To simulate full-scale engineered hydrochar (EHC) production.
- To assess the techno-economic feasibility of scaling up EHC production.
- To evaluate the performance of EHC for water treatment.
Main Methods:
- Engineered hydrochar (EHC) produced from rice straw via hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) at 200°C with iron addition.
- Techno-economic evaluation model used to simulate production, energy needs, and cost scenarios.
- EHC efficacy tested for Congo Red (CR) adsorption from water.
Main Results:
- Simulated EHC production demonstrated economic feasibility with a Minimum Selling Price (MSP) of $76/t, significantly lower than comparable sorbents ($136/t).
- The engineered hydrochar adsorbed over 95% of Congo Red (CR) from water.
- The study bridges the knowledge gap in scaling up EHC production.
Conclusions:
- Engineered hydrochar (EHC) production via hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) is technically and economically viable for scale-up.
- The produced EHC exhibits high efficiency for removing anionic organic contaminants from water.
- This research supports the advancement of EHC technology for practical water treatment applications.
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