Investigation of Myriophyllum Aquaticum HTC: Reaction Pathways & Compound Identification

Abstract

Hydrothermal Carbonization (HTC) represents a promising green technology for converting various biomass feedstocks into valuable hydrochar and liquid products. In this study, the HTC process of Myriophyllum aquaticum Verd., highly diffused in Tuscany (Italy), was investigated varying the process temperatures and the holding times. Indeed, it is one of the world's most troublesome invasive aquatic weeds, impacting not only the quality of water but also contributing to habitat deterioration; therefore, several management practices are required to address the problem. This research focused on obtaining preliminary experimental data to be further implemented in a lumped kinetic model to elucidate the reaction pathways leading to the formation of primary hydrochar and liquid compounds responsible for secondary hydrochar production. To figure out the HTC liquid phase composition and the organic compounds responsible for secondary hydrochar formation, the High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) analytical technique was employed. This technique allowed to identify and quantify some of key chemical components present in the HTC liquid phase, i.e., sugars and furans. Moreover, the future integration of a lumped kinetic model and advanced analytical techniques not only will enhance the understanding of the Myriophyllum aquaticum HTC process but will also provide valuable insights into the optimization of HTC conditions for biomass conversion and resource recovery.