1 AIT Asian Institute of Technology

Evaluation of the hydrochar pellet produced from the hydrothermal carbonization treating fecal sludge

AuthorSuttinee Jairuang
Call NumberAIT Thesis no.EV-17-26
Subject(s)Sewage sludge
Carbonization

NoteA thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Environmental Engineering and Management
PublisherAsian Institute of Technology
Series StatementThesis ; no. EV-17-26
AbstractHydrothermal carbonization or HTC is a thermal conversion process that converts biomass feedstock at moderate temperature to a carbonaceous solid which called hydrochar. This process was interesting process to apply the faecal sludge management (FSM), especially on developing countries in order to treat faecal sludge (FS) for killing pathogen and providing value-added products. Hydrochar is solid product that can be applied in many applications especially on bio-energy for sustainable way. Previous studies show that energy content of the produced hydrochar from FS can be increased by adding of many biomasses at different ratios. This study aimed to produce hydrochar pellet at different conditions of binders, ratio of binder and ratio of water. Hydrochar powder from faecal sludge mixed rice husk (1:1) as feedstock was found 23 MJ/kg that used to produce hydrochar pellet and testing of fuel characteristics. Hydrochar pellet was changed the shape from hydrochar powder to hydrochar pellets by pelletization process and each hydrochar pellet was designed to 10 mm of diameter and 30 mm of length. Manual hydraulic press is the apparatus that conducted in this research to make hydrochar pellet by applied lower pressure at 120 bars and followed with drying process. Various process parameters of pelletization such as types of binders (lignin powder, starch and calcium hydroxide), ratios of binder (5%, 10% and 20%) and ratios of water (10% and 20%) were studied. Moreover, the hydrochar pellet sample in term of highest energy content was optimum and this research found 5% lignin mixed with 10% water and 85% hydrochar powder can be produced highest energy content of hydrochar pellet (24.3 MJ/kg) that was determined more fuel properties. From the result was shown bulk density of 433.81 kg/m³, and proximate analysis was shown 3.3 %wt. of moisture content, 46.1% wt. of volatile mater, 27.2 %wt. of ash content and 20.3 %wt. of fixed carbon content. Hence, pelletization can increase bulk density and produced lower moisture content of hydrochar pellet. For ultimate analysis, the main elements were found 48.12 %wt. of C and 42.85 %wt. of O. From ultimate analysis was used to estimate GHGs and SO₂ emission from combustion that was presented CO₂ of 176.44 g/100 g sample was the main GHGs and SO₂ was presented of 2.66 g/100 g sample. PM10 was investigated in laboratory scale which found the result of 1,453.70 mg/m³ that consisting of fine fraction (PM2.1) was presented 1,014.3mg/m³. Furthermore, hydrochar pellet was compared to European guideline of pellets fuel to evaluate suitable properties for pellet fuel. The result was presented that some properties such as diameter, length, energy content, moisture content was under standard of both classes A and B and bulk density, ash content and S element should be improved.
Year2017
TypeThesis
SchoolSchool of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD)
DepartmentDepartment of Energy and Climate Change (Former title: Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Change (DEECC))
Academic Program/FoSEnvironmental Engineering (EV)
Chairperson(s)Thammarat Koottatep;
Examination Committee(s)Chongrak Polprasert;Nguyen, Thi Kim Oanh;
Scholarship Donor(s)Royal Thai Government;Asian Institute of Technology Fellowship;
DegreeThesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2017


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