Hydrothermal Carbonization of Olive Pomace Using Olive Mill Wastewater as a Conversion Media

In the present work, hydrothermal carbonization of olive pomace was investigated for different conversion media at various temperatures. The produced hydrochars were characterized using different analytical techniques. The experiments show that the use of olive mill wastewater (OMW) as a carbonization media increased hydrochar recovery compared to the distilled water. Such results indicate the possible recovery of the OMW organic matter into hydrochar. However, the proximate analysis shows that hyrochars prepared in OMW media has higher volatile matter contents and low fixed carbon and ash contents compared to the hydrochar prepared in water media. Furthermore, morphological differences were observed with specific formation of carbon micro-spheres detected when using distilled water as reaction medium. These characterizations may guide for suitable applications for both hydrochars.