Energy recovery from agro-forest wastes through hydrothermal carbonization coupled with hydrothermal co-gasification: Effects of succinic acid on hydrochars and H2 production

Aiming to upgrade agro-forest wastes into value-added solid and gaseous fuels in the present investigation, hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) of spruce (SP), canola hull (CH), and canola meal (CM) was optimized in terms of operating conditions, maximizing the higher heating value of hydrochars. The optimal operating conditions were achieved at HTC temperature, reaction time, and solid-to-liquid ratio of 260 °C, 60 min, and 0.2 g mL−1, respectively. At the optimum condition, succinic acid (0.05–0.1 M) was used as HTC reaction medium to investigate the effects of acidic medium on the fuel characteristics of hydrochars. The succinic acid assisted HTC was found to eliminate ash-forming minerals e.g., K, Mg, and Ca from hydrochar backbones. The calorific values, H/C and O/C atomic ratios of hydrochars were in the range of 27.6–29.8 MJ kg−1, 0.8–1.1, and 0.1–0.2, respectively, indicating the biomass upgrading into coal-like solid fuels. Finally, hydrothermal gasification of hydrochars with their corresponding HTC aqueous phase (HTC-AP) was assessed. Gasification of CM resulted in a relatively high H2 yield of 4.9–5.5 mol kg−1 followed by that for SP with 4.0–4.6 mol H2 per kg of hydrochars. Results suggest that hydrochars and HTC-AP have a great potential for H2 production via hydrothermal co-gasification, while suggesting HTC-AP reuse. [Display omitted] •Hydrothermal carbonization/gasification was used to recover energy from agro-forest wastes.•The hydrochar HHV reached 27.6–29.8 MJ kg−1 under optimal HTC operating conditions.•Succinic acid-assisted HTC decreased O/C atomic ratios of hydrochars 13.6–25.0%.•Hydrochars and HTC-aqueous phase (HTC-AP) were hydrothermally co-gasified.•Canola meal hydrochars with HTC-AP of pH 8 obtained the H2 yield of 5.5 mol kg−1.