Product Characterization of Hydrothermal Liquefaction and Supercritical Water Gasification of Water Hyacinth

摘要

Hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) and supercritical water gasification (SCWG) are promising technologies for clean renewable energy production from biomass. This study investigated the process and mechanism of water hyacinth treatment by HTL and SCWG to prepare clean biodiesel and combustible gas. The optimal HTL reaction conditions were 350°C, 50 min, 20 wt % stock concentration, and 0.60 g/mL water density. The liquid products were analyzed by Gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer and infrared radiation spectra analysis. The fat was hydrolyzed into fatty acids and the fatty acid decarboxylate formed alkanes. The protein undergoes C-N peptide bond hydrolysis and Maillard reaction with aldose to form ketones and nitrogenous compounds. The polysaccharides were hydrolyzed and cycled to form phenols. The optimal SCWG reaction conditions were 480°C, 20 min, 23.10% stock concentration, and a pressure between 25 and 27 MPa. The effects of process parameters on the content of H2 and CH4 in the gas products were studied. This work is helpful for resource utilization of water hyacinth hydrothermal treatment. The energy conversion efficiency of SCWG of water hyacinth in this experiment is lower compared with HTL.