Hydrothermal liquefaction of biogenic municipal solid waste under reduced H 2 atmosphere in biorefinery format

Municipal solid waste (MSW), an inexorable by-product of anthropogenic activities composes of nearly 50% of the organic (biogenic) fraction. Hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) was studied to facilitate thermal depolymerization of organic fraction of MSW to biocrude at sub-critical region of water (200 °C; 100 bar pressure) employing H2 induced reducing conditions. Food, vegetable, and composite wastes were evaluated as feedstocks to produce HTL derivatives in the form of liquor (biocrude and aqueous phase), biochar and bio-gas. The biocrude (HTLOF) showed middle oil as major fraction along with C6-C22 compounds. Composite waste resulted in relatively higher yield of biocrude fraction. The aqueous phase (HTLAF) documented the presence of reducing sugars, sotolon and furfurals as major fraction. Biochar (HTLBC) composition showed maximum carbon fraction followed by hydrogen and oxygen. H2 induced reduced condition facilitated conversion of the biogenic MSW at relatively lower input conditions to various biobased fractions cohesively addressing the basic biorefinery requirement. © 2020 Elsevier Ltd