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Bio-coal Synthesis via Hydrothermal Carbonization of Giant Salvinia for a High-Quality Solid Biofuel

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Abstract

The rapid proliferation of giant Salvinia (GS; Salvinia molesta) in various hydrostatic environments, such as ponds and paddy fields, poses a threat to water quality due to light obstruction. Thus, this study aimed to transform GS biomass into hydrochar or solid biofuel via hydrothermal carbonization (HTC). Several parameters were examined, including residence time, reaction temperature, and liquid-to-solid mass ratio (L/S). The Box-Behnken Design (BBD) was also employed to set the experimental conditions at three levels and factors. The examinations of reaction temperature (200–220 °C), residence time (2–6 h), and L/S ratio (12–20) were conducted. The physical and chemical characteristics of hydrochar were further analyzed to encompass higher heating value (HHV), proximate analysis, ultimate analysis, functional group, and morphology. The percent energy recovery (ER, %) was remarked for the experimental design response. The kinetic analysis and a comprehensive combustibility index, calculated from TGA/DTG curves, were employed to elucidate the combustion behavior of hydrochar. The optimal condition for hydrochar production, resulting in maximal ER, was identified at 220 °C, 6 h, with an L/S ratio of 16. The corresponding fixed carbon (FC), HHV, and mass yield were approximately 17.2%, 23.5 MJ/kg, and 51.4%, respectively. The H/C and O/C mole ratios in the sub-bituminous coal region. This study affirms the feasibility of converting GS biomass into a renewable fuel resembling low-rank coal.

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All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article and supplementary material.

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Funding

This work received a scholarship from the Research and Graduate Studies, Khon Kaen University, Thailand. Also, this work was conducted under Khon Kaen University, which has received funding support from the Fundamental Fund (the National Science, Research and Innovation Fund (NSRF), Thailand) and the Research Center for Environmental and Hazardous Substance Management (EHSM), Khon Kaen University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand

    Piyanut Phuthongkhao, Totsaporn Suwannaruang & Kitirote Wantala

  2. Chemical Kinetics and Applied Catalysis Laboratory (CKCL), Faculty of Engineering, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand

    Piyanut Phuthongkhao, Totsaporn Suwannaruang & Kitirote Wantala

  3. Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand

    Rattabal Khunphonoi

  4. National Nanotechnology Center (NANOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Pathum Thani, 12120, Thailand

    Pongtanawat Khemthong

  5. Research Center for Environmental and Hazardous Substance Management (EHSM), Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand

    Kitirote Wantala

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  1. Piyanut Phuthongkhao
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  2. Rattabal Khunphonoi
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Contributions

Piyanut Phuthongkhao: conceptualization, methodology, data curation, software, formal analysis, writing—original draft, and visualization. Rattabal Khunphonoi, Pongtanawat Khemthong, and Tossaporn Suwannaruang: validation and writing—review and editing. Kitirote Wantala: conceptualization, methodology, data curation, software, formal analysis, writing—original draft, visualization, supervision, writing—review and editing, and validation.

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Correspondence to Kitirote Wantala.

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Highlights

• Bio-coal derived from giant Salvinia via hydrothermal carbonization was first demonstrated.

• Bio-coal obtained from giant Salvinia falls in the sub-bituminous traits.

• Higher heating value of bio-coal from giant Salvinia exceeds hydrochar from other aquatic ferns.

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Supplementary file1 (DOCX 83 KB)

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Phuthongkhao, P., Khunphonoi, R., Khemthong, P. et al. Bio-coal Synthesis via Hydrothermal Carbonization of Giant Salvinia for a High-Quality Solid Biofuel. Bioenerg. Res. (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12155-024-10766-z

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