Hydrochar and hydrochar co-compost from OFMSW digestate for soil application: 1. production and chemical characterization

• Published in: Journal of environmental management Vol. 309; p. 114688
• Main Authors: Scrinzi, Donato, Bona, Daniela, Denaro, Andrea, Silvestri, Silvia, Andreottola, Gianni, Fiori, Luca
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.05.2022
• Subjects: Anaerobiosis; C2Land project; Carbon; Circular economy; Composting; HTC process Water; Hydrothermal carbonization; Integrated plant enhancement; Methane; Nutrients fate; Soil; Solid Waste; HTC process Water; Circular economy; Hydrothermal carbonization; C2Land project; Integrated plant enhancement; Nutrients fate
• ISSN: 0301-4797; 1095-8630
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.114688

The best available technique (BAT) for managing the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) is represented by anaerobic digestion (AD) and subsequent composting. This research explored a new industrial model in the framework of the C2Land international project, with the insertion of hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) as a post-treatment for OFMSW digestate. The reaction was set for 3 h at three different temperatures (180 ÷ 220 °C); the wet solid hydrochar obtained after filtration was then co-composted with greenery waste as a bulking agent and untreated OFMSW digestate in four different proportions in bench-scale bioreactors. The hydrochars and the hydrochar co-composts were suitable for agro-industrial applications, while the HTC liquors were tested in biochemical methane potential (BMP) for internal recirculation to AD. The scenarios proposed can be beneficial for plant enhancement and increased biogas production. This study reports results connected to the production phase. Mass balances confirmed that, during HTC, phosphorus precipitated into the solid products, organic nitrogen partially mineralized into ammonium, and oxidizable organic matter solubilized. The selected hydrochar obtained at 200 °C had mean (dry) solid, liquid, and gaseous yields equal to 77, 20, and 3 %db, respectively. The dynamic respirometric index (DRI) confirmed that the reproduced BAT for the composting process was effective in producing high-quality hydrochar co-composts in terms of biological stability. The BMP tests on HTC liquors showed some inhibitory effects, suggesting the need for future studies with inoculum adaptation and co-digestion, to dilute toxic compounds and enhance biogas production. Part 2 of this study describes the agro-environmental properties of hydrochars and hydrochar co-composts, including the beneficial effect of composting on hydrochars phytotoxicity. [Display omitted] •AD + HTC + co-composting: Industrial model validated at lab scale.•Hydrochar co-compost with high biological stability: high-quality compost.•HTC of OFMSW digestate: better filterability and solid mass reduction.•HTC strongly affects N, P, and COD partition.•N equally shared in hydrochar and HTC liquor, P in hydrochar, COD solubilizes.