Biomass Waste-to-Chemical Feedstock and Biofuel Production through Hybrid Processes
Project no. 22343 · Status: Kapanmış · 2021
Summary
<p>In the future, renewable energy sources are gaining importance due to their environmentally friendly and sustainable nature, replacing fossil fuels. Among these sources, biomass is considered carbon-neutral due to the photosynthesis cycle, with a particular focus on lignocellulosic residues. As our country is an agricultural nation, these residues are abundantly generated. In recent years, the uncontrolled proliferation of the wild plant water hyacinth, with a rapid reproductive capacity in some rivers of our country, has the potential to be an energy source, especially due to its high organic content.</p><p>Generally, biological and thermal methods are used in the production of chemical raw materials and energy. Methane production through anaerobic fermentation is achieved with biological methods, and the remaining residue is used as fertilizer. Parameters such as pH, carbon/nitrogen ratio, raw material, and microorganism ratio (F/M), total solid matter, etc., are crucial in anaerobic fermentation. Determining the distribution of an effective microbial structure is essential for achieving maximum biogas and biomethane production, ensuring process stability. However, the use of the remaining liquid residue as fertilizer is generally not suitable due to some limitations (composition, pathogen content, transfer distances, etc.). The hydrothermal method transforms this residue into chemical raw materials and biofuels (rich in hydrogen and methane) under supercritical/subcritical conditions of water (Tc=374°C and Pc=221 bar), minimizing the amount of waste.</p><p>In this project, sludge obtained from wastewater treatment plants with water hyacinth will undergo anaerobic fermentation at different temperatures and total solid amounts to determine the conditions for maximum biogas (biomethane) formation and effective structures through microbial analyses. Subsequently, the high-water and organic content of this residue will be transformed into various chemical raw materials and biofuels under supercritical/subcritical conditions of water. Thus, while achieving "Green Energy" production with our country's indigenous resources, sustainable sources will be evaluated with environmental awareness, supporting the "Zero Waste" project.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p>