Improved energy recovery from food waste through hydrothermal carbonization and anaerobic digestion

[Display omitted] •Food waste was valorized by hydrothermal carbonization and anaerobic digestion.•The combustion properties of hydrochar complied with ISO/TS 17225–8.•Methane yield of process water reached values up to 154 mL CH4 STP g−1 CODadded.•Anaerobic digestion promoted the removal of specific recalcitrant compounds.•Good energy recovery yield can be obtained from combustion of hydrochar and methane. Here we studied energy valorization of food waste by hydrothermal carbonization coupled with anaerobic digestion. Hydrothermal treatment was carried out at 200 °C and 230 °C for 1 h, obtaining hydrochar with properties suitable for solid biofuel according to ISO/TS 17225–8. The increase in temperature improved the fuel properties of hydrochar (higher heating value 20.3 and 23.7 MJ kg−1, fuel ratio 0.33 and 0.37, energy density 1.07 and 1.25). The anaerobic digestion of process water achieved methane yields around 150 mL CH4 STP g−1 CODadded and made it possible to remove some specific recalcitrant compounds, such as 2-methylpyridine and 2-ethyl-3-methylpyrazine. Energy recovery from hydrochar and process water seems to be an interesting alternative way to sustain the process energetically and economically, despite the significant energy inputs required for hydrothermal carbonization.