Conversion of dried leaves into hydrochar through hydrothermal carbonization

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Date
2019-06
Authors
Thineswaren A/L V.Subramaniam
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In this study, dried leaves of Khaya senegalensis were converted into hydrochar by hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) at different temperatures of 200 ºC, 225 ºC and 250ºC under three residence times; 24 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours. The main objective of this study was to study the effect of temperature and residence time on the production of the hydrochar. The secondary objective was to analyze the physiochemical properties of hydrochar. Based on the results, there was a significant increase in the energy content and energy yield while decrease in yield of hydrochar with increase in temperature. The highest energy content of 28813 J/g was obtained when the feedstock was heated at 250 ºC for 72 hours which showed 62.72 % increase in energy content compared to that of raw feedstock, which was 0.668 m2 /g. Besides, the pH values of the hydrochar formed were in the range of 5.0-6.8, which were slightly acidic. Other than that, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results showed that hydrochar had a high porosity and surface area compared to raw dried leaves. 13.922 m2 /g was the highest surface area of hydrochar obtained under BrunauerEmmett-Teller (BET) method after being treated at 250 ºC for 24 hours. Based on these results, properties of hydrochar varied according to temperatures and residence time. Therefore, the temperature and residence time had a significant effect in producing the hydrochar and it depends on the purpose of its application.
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