The hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) plant as a decentral for wet biomass

The hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) is a very suitable process to transform wet biomass feedstocks into a peat-like material without drying the biomass input. Therefore, the energetic balance is more favorable than for alternative processes converting biomass as a whole. Further synergies can be achieved when the plant is employed as central hub for a regional biorefinery. Hence, a HTC pilot plant is operated with garden prunings and monitored during two years. It is shown that the elemental composition of HTC carbon is relatively constant. A carbon content of higher than 60% (based on dry, ash-free matter) is achieved. Fixed carbon content and volatile matter show low variation being the volatile content quite high with 61% on average. Dried in a post-process treatment which is less energy-demanding than drying of the raw biomass and pressed into pellets or briquettes the HTC carbon can be used as solid biofuel fulfilling the European standard (EN 14961-6). With a regional thermal valorization of the biofuel the ashes can be returned as phosphorous source to the crop land from which the biomass was harvested. Part of the process water, which involves a high amount of potassium, can be used for crop irrigation. In this way, valuable plant nutrients are recovered for soil remediation. Hence, closing the nutrient cycles a HTC plant can be considered as a sustainable local biorefinery producing a solid biofuel. Thereby, solar energy is exploited which was fixed before by photosynthesis together with the carbon dioxide which is liberated in the combustion of the solid biofuel. Optionally, the process water might serve as an alternative source of energy as it is demonstrated that its carbon content can be exploited for biogas production. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.