Abstract
Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) is a promising technology for waste valorisation and nutrient recovery to achieve sustainability. HTC converts organic waste into hydrochar, a carbon-rich solid with numerous surface functionalities that can be used for energy and wastewater treatment. In this review, we highlight the potential of hydrochar-based technology for improving the performance of anaerobic digestion (AD) systems and downstream applications of nutrient-laden hydrochar. We identify knowledge gaps in hydrochar production, performance in AD systems and nutrient recovery, including the need for larger-scale production facilities, multielement adsorption studies, and computational modelling. Techno-economic analysis and life cycle assessment of hydrochar applications are critical to evaluating the commercial viability of this technology. Overall, hydrochar-based technology offers a sustainable solution for waste management and resource recovery, with potential socioeconomic benefits for developing economies. The deployment of hydrochar-based technology will directly address key issues highlighted in the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals such as Clean water and sanitation (SDG 6); Zero hunger (SDG 2); and Climate action (SDG 13) thereby contributing to a more sustainable future.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 328-336 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Journal of Sustainable Agriculture and Environment |
| Volume | 2 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| Early online date | 25 Jul 2023 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Sept 2023 |
Keywords
- anaerobic digestion
- hydrochar
- hydrothermal carbonization
- nutrient recovery
- soil amelioration
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Agricultural and Biological Sciences (miscellaneous)
- Agronomy and Crop Science
- Plant Science
- Ecology
Access to Document
- Sustainable resource recovery and process improvement in anaerobic digesters using hydrochar: a circular bio‐economic perspective
Copyright 2023 the authors. This is an open access article published under a Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the author and source are cited.