Grant: Idea to Innovation
University of Western Ontario
$124,750.00
Hydrothermal liquefaction technology for co-processing of wastewater sludge and other solid wastes for bioenergy production
FY 2017-18
Summary
A promising hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) technology (PCT patent pending, file # 349-264-P) has been developed, partnering mainly with Trojan Technologies, and a few other industrial partners. The technology realizes co-processing of high-water-content wastewater sludge and other solid wastes such as municipal solid waste (MSW) and forestry/agricultural residues for co-production of bio oils and biogas. In our previous lab-scale tests in both a 100 mL batch reactor and a lab-scale continuous-flow HTL reactor (0.6 kg/h), the operating conditions including reaction temperature, reaction time and solids concentration were optimized based on the response surface methodology for the maximum bio-crude oil production. The two by-products from this process (bio-char and water-soluble products (WSP)) can be used to produce energy as well.Bio-methane Potential (BMP) test on the obtained WSP demonstrated excellent fermentability for biogas production by anaerobic digestion (AD). In this proposed I2I Phase I (reduction-to-practice) project, we aim to advance this HTL-AD process by scaling up the process for treating mixed wastes at 6 kg/h treatment capacity(10 fold scale up). The operating conditions will be optimized for the 6 kg/h scale HTL reactor system for the maximum bio-oil production. Mixtures of waste activated sludge and various types of solid wastes such as wood sawdust, cornstalk, and MSW will be investigated in the 6 kg/h scale HTL reactor system. In addition, a 5 L batch bioreactor will be constructed for AD tests of the water-soluble products for biogas production in addition to the BMP test. Finally, a techno-economic analysis for a full-scale plant (16 t/h sludge treatment capacity) will be performed, and compared with a conventional process (WAS anaerobic digestion digested sludge dewatering - landfill or incineration) as a benchmark. The research results from this I2I Phase-I project can be used for the decision making and design of full-scale HTL plants.
Program
Idea to Innovation
Recipient
Location
Ontario, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
514310-2017
Name nom
Xu, CharlesChunbao
Department département
Chemical and Biochemical Engineering
Organization id
36
Institution établissement
University of Western Ontario
Province en
Ontario
Province fr
Ontario
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2017
Competition year année de concours
2017
Award amount
124750
Program id
I2IPJ
Program name en
Idea to Innovation
Program name fr
De l'idée à l'innovation
Group en
Research partnerships programs
Group fr
Programmes de partenariat
Committee code
96
Committee name en
RPP Internal Decision Cttee
Committee name fr
Cté de décision interne - PPR
Area of application code
902
Area of application group en
Commercial services
Area of application group fr
Services commerciaux
Area of application en
Waste, waste management and recycling
Area of application fr
Déchets, gestion des déchets et recyclage
Research subject code
1801
Research subject group en
Chemical engineering
Research subject group fr
Génie chimique
Research subject en
Reaction fundamentals and reactor design
Research subject fr
Principes des réactions et conception de réacteurs
Partie
1
Nb partie
1
Application title
Hydrothermal liquefaction technology for co-processing of wastewater sludge and other solid wastes for bioenergy production
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
A promising hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) technology (PCT patent pending, file # 349-264-P) has been developed, partnering mainly with Trojan Technologies, and a few other industrial partners. The technology realizes co-processing of high-water-content wastewater sludge and other solid wastes such as municipal solid waste (MSW) and forestry/agricultural residues for co-production of bio oils and biogas. In our previous lab-scale tests in both a 100 mL batch reactor and a lab-scale continuous-flow HTL reactor (0.6 kg/h), the operating conditions including reaction temperature, reaction time and solids concentration were optimized based on the response surface methodology for the maximum bio-crude oil production. The two by-products from this process (bio-char and water-soluble products (WSP)) can be used to produce energy as well.Bio-methane Potential (BMP) test on the obtained WSP demonstrated excellent fermentability for biogas production by anaerobic digestion (AD). In this proposed I2I Phase I (reduction-to-practice) project, we aim to advance this HTL-AD process by scaling up the process for treating mixed wastes at 6 kg/h treatment capacity(10 fold scale up). The operating conditions will be optimized for the 6 kg/h scale HTL reactor system for the maximum bio-oil production. Mixtures of waste activated sludge and various types of solid wastes such as wood sawdust, cornstalk, and MSW will be investigated in the 6 kg/h scale HTL reactor system. In addition, a 5 L batch bioreactor will be constructed for AD tests of the water-soluble products for biogas production in addition to the BMP test. Finally, a techno-economic analysis for a full-scale plant (16 t/h sludge treatment capacity) will be performed, and compared with a conventional process (WAS anaerobic digestion digested sludge dewatering - landfill or incineration) as a benchmark. The research results from this I2I Phase-I project can be used for the decision making and design of full-scale HTL plants.
