Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) of dairy waste: effect of temperature and initial acidity on the composition and quality of solid and liquid products [version 3; peer review: 1 approved, 2 approved with reservations]

Background: Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) of dairy processing waste was performed to investigate the effect of temperature and initial pH on the yield and composition of the solid (hydrochar) and liquor produced. All hydrochars met the EU requirements of organo-mineral solid fertilizers defined i...

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Main Authors: J.J. Leahy, Nidal Khalaf, Wenxuan Shi, Witold Kwapinski, Owen Fenton
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: F1000 Research Ltd 2023-09-01
Series:Open Research Europe
Subjects:
Online Access:https://open-research-europe.ec.europa.eu/articles/2-83/v3
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author J.J. Leahy
Nidal Khalaf
Wenxuan Shi
Witold Kwapinski
Owen Fenton
Owen Fenton
author_facet J.J. Leahy
Nidal Khalaf
Wenxuan Shi
Witold Kwapinski
Owen Fenton
Owen Fenton
author_sort J.J. Leahy
collection DOAJ
description Background: Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) of dairy processing waste was performed to investigate the effect of temperature and initial pH on the yield and composition of the solid (hydrochar) and liquor produced. All hydrochars met the EU requirements of organo-mineral solid fertilizers defined in the Fertilizing Products Regulation in terms of phosphorus (P) and mineral content. Methods: Laboratory scale HTC was performed using pressurized reactors, and the products (solid and liquid) were collected, stored and analyzed for elemental composition and nutrient content using Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry (UV-Vis) and other analytic techniques. Results: Maximum hydrochar yield (60.67%) was observed at T=180℃ and pH=2.25, whereas the maximum P-recovery was 80.38% at T=220℃ and pH=4.6. The heavy metal content of the hydrochars was mostly compliant with EU limitations, except for Ni at T=220℃ and pH=8.32. Meanwhile, further study of Chromium (Cr) species is essential to assess the fertilizer quality of the hydrochars. For the liquid product, the increase in temperature beyond 200℃, coupled with an increase in initial acidity (pH=2.25) drove P into the liquor. Simultaneously, increasing HTC temperature and acidity increased the concentration of NO 3 - and NH 4 + in the liquid products to a maximum of 278 and 148 mg/L, respectively, at T=180℃ and pH=4.6. Furthermore, no direct relation between final pH of liquor and NH 4 + concentration was observed. Conclusions: HTC allows for the production of hydrochar as a potential fertilizer material that requires further processing. Adjusting HTC conditions enhanced P-recovery in the hydrochar, while retrieving higher nitrate concentrations in the liquid product. Optimizing HTC for the production of qualified hydrochars requires further treatment of Cr content, studying the availability of P in the products and enhancing the hydrochar yield for economic feasibility.
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spelling doaj.art-0f51e69767a44e18a403fd23c0bf5d072023-09-07T00:00:00ZengF1000 Research LtdOpen Research Europe2732-51212023-09-01217655Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) of dairy waste: effect of temperature and initial acidity on the composition and quality of solid and liquid products [version 3; peer review: 1 approved, 2 approved with reservations]J.J. Leahy0Nidal Khalaf1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2908-9761Wenxuan Shi2https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8639-0588Witold Kwapinski3Owen Fenton4Owen Fenton5Chemical and Environmental Science Department, University of Limerick, Limerick, Limerick, V94 T9PX, IrelandChemical and Environmental Science Department, University of Limerick, Limerick, Limerick, V94 T9PX, IrelandTeagasc, Environmental Research Centre, Johnstown Castle, Co, Wexford, Y35 TC97, IrelandChemical and Environmental Science Department, University of Limerick, Limerick, Limerick, V94 T9PX, IrelandTeagasc, Environmental Research Centre, Johnstown Castle, Co, Wexford, Y35 TC97, IrelandTeagasc, Environmental Research Centre, Johnstown Castle, Co, Wexford, Y35 TC97, IrelandBackground: Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) of dairy processing waste was performed to investigate the effect of temperature and initial pH on the yield and composition of the solid (hydrochar) and liquor produced. All hydrochars met the EU requirements of organo-mineral solid fertilizers defined in the Fertilizing Products Regulation in terms of phosphorus (P) and mineral content. Methods: Laboratory scale HTC was performed using pressurized reactors, and the products (solid and liquid) were collected, stored and analyzed for elemental composition and nutrient content using Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry (UV-Vis) and other analytic techniques. Results: Maximum hydrochar yield (60.67%) was observed at T=180℃ and pH=2.25, whereas the maximum P-recovery was 80.38% at T=220℃ and pH=4.6. The heavy metal content of the hydrochars was mostly compliant with EU limitations, except for Ni at T=220℃ and pH=8.32. Meanwhile, further study of Chromium (Cr) species is essential to assess the fertilizer quality of the hydrochars. For the liquid product, the increase in temperature beyond 200℃, coupled with an increase in initial acidity (pH=2.25) drove P into the liquor. Simultaneously, increasing HTC temperature and acidity increased the concentration of NO 3 - and NH 4 + in the liquid products to a maximum of 278 and 148 mg/L, respectively, at T=180℃ and pH=4.6. Furthermore, no direct relation between final pH of liquor and NH 4 + concentration was observed. Conclusions: HTC allows for the production of hydrochar as a potential fertilizer material that requires further processing. Adjusting HTC conditions enhanced P-recovery in the hydrochar, while retrieving higher nitrate concentrations in the liquid product. Optimizing HTC for the production of qualified hydrochars requires further treatment of Cr content, studying the availability of P in the products and enhancing the hydrochar yield for economic feasibility.https://open-research-europe.ec.europa.eu/articles/2-83/v3HTC Dairy Waste Hydrochar Phosphorus STRUBIAS Heavy Metals eng
spellingShingle J.J. Leahy
Nidal Khalaf
Wenxuan Shi
Witold Kwapinski
Owen Fenton
Owen Fenton
Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) of dairy waste: effect of temperature and initial acidity on the composition and quality of solid and liquid products [version 3; peer review: 1 approved, 2 approved with reservations]
Open Research Europe
HTC
Dairy Waste
Hydrochar
Phosphorus
STRUBIAS
Heavy Metals
eng
title Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) of dairy waste: effect of temperature and initial acidity on the composition and quality of solid and liquid products [version 3; peer review: 1 approved, 2 approved with reservations]
title_full Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) of dairy waste: effect of temperature and initial acidity on the composition and quality of solid and liquid products [version 3; peer review: 1 approved, 2 approved with reservations]
title_fullStr Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) of dairy waste: effect of temperature and initial acidity on the composition and quality of solid and liquid products [version 3; peer review: 1 approved, 2 approved with reservations]
title_full_unstemmed Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) of dairy waste: effect of temperature and initial acidity on the composition and quality of solid and liquid products [version 3; peer review: 1 approved, 2 approved with reservations]
title_short Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) of dairy waste: effect of temperature and initial acidity on the composition and quality of solid and liquid products [version 3; peer review: 1 approved, 2 approved with reservations]
title_sort hydrothermal carbonization htc of dairy waste effect of temperature and initial acidity on the composition and quality of solid and liquid products version 3 peer review 1 approved 2 approved with reservations
topic HTC
Dairy Waste
Hydrochar
Phosphorus
STRUBIAS
Heavy Metals
eng
url https://open-research-europe.ec.europa.eu/articles/2-83/v3
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