Low-cost additives to improve the fusion behaviour of hydrochar ash

Abstract

Hydrochars produced from agro-industrial wastes contain significant amounts of alkali metals and other inorganic elements that lead to different ash-related issues in energy systems. This work aims to modify the composition of hydrochar ash by adding rice hulls and/or mineral additives (i.e., lime, bentonite and kaolin) to improve their fusion behavior. Two series of samples were prepared to analyze the effect that the use of additives before or after the HTC processing of olive mill waste at 225 °C for 2 h had on the hydrochar properties. Hydrochars were then ashed, in agreement with UNE-EN 18122:2016, and the corresponding ashes subsequently characterized through XRF and ash fusion tests to determine their ash composition and ash characteristic fusion temperatures (AFTs), respectively. Among the studied additives, rice hulls led to the best results, as their use increased the initial ash deformation temperature to >1500 °C and resulted in the lowest hydrochar ash content. Using rice hulls before or after the HTC process did not affect the ash behavior, but it did change the hydrochar properties as a fuel. The joint HTC of rice hulls and feedstock led to a less carbonized solid with 13% higher moisture content and 15% lower energy density. Accordingly, the addition of rice hulls to ready-produced hydrochars is recommended to maintain the energy benefits of HTC as possible. The use of rice hulls as a low-cost additive to improve the fusion behavior of hydrochar ash opens new avenues for hydrochars in energy conversion processes with limited ash-related operational problems.