Hydrothermal carbonization and pyrolysis in wetland engineering: Carbon sequestration, phosphorus recovery, and structural characterization of willow-based chars with X-ray μ-computed tomography

Andrés C. Acosta; Carlos A. Arias; Patrick Biller; Nina K. Wittig; Ioan Alexandru Baragau; M. Jamal Alhnidi; Giulia Ravenni; Zsuzsa Sárossy; Lidia Benedini; Laura Elena Abramiuc; Dana Georgeta Popescu; Wakene Negassa; Victor F. Marulanda; Dorette S. Müller-Stöver; Hans Brix

doi:10.1016/j.cej.2024.151916

Hydrothermal carbonization and pyrolysis in wetland engineering: Carbon sequestration, phosphorus recovery, and structural characterization of willow-based chars with X-ray μ-computed tomography

Andrés C. Acosta^*, Carlos A. Arias, Patrick Biller, Nina K. Wittig, Ioan Alexandru Baragau, M. Jamal Alhnidi, Giulia Ravenni, Zsuzsa Sárossy, Lidia Benedini, Laura Elena Abramiuc, Dana Georgeta Popescu, Wakene Negassa, Victor F. Marulanda, Dorette S. Müller-Stöver, Hans Brix

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaper › Journal article › Research › peer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Willows from engineered wetland systems (EWS) offer a sustainable approach to wastewater treatment and biomass production. Our study assesses their potential for nutrient recovery and carbon sequestration using slow pyrolysis (600 °C) and hydrothermal carbonization (250 °C). Here, we propose EWS-pyrochars as a ready-to integrate opportunity for soil amendment, as they exhibit a predominant CO₂ release and the absence of harmful compounds in pyrolysis-chromatograms, indicating higher stability than hydrochars. Using sequential P-extractions, we observed a high bioavailability in the willow-woodchips and a significant P-retention in EWS-chars—up to 92 % in pyrochars and near-complete retention in hydrochars, along with a higher labile-P fraction of 21 % in hydrochars than 5 % in pyrochars. Utilizing X-ray-based techniques, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and gas physisorption, we characterized the EWS-chars' structures. We revealed innovative 3D-visualizations, which transcend previous literature by providing insights into the chars' internal porosity and quantifying, for the first time, their carbonaceous structural thickness via a meshing algorithm and the mean Feret diameter. EWS-pyrochars exhibit remarkable aromaticity with a higher concentration of overall sp² C-atoms at 63 % vs. 43 % in hydrochars. Moreover, unlike hydrochars, which depict occluded porosity, EWS-pyrochars exhibited 92 % water storage-like pores. Although hydrochars indicated lower carbonization and thermal stability than pyrochars, their higher carbon retention (55 vs. 41 % in pyrochar) suggest superior annual benefits—on a 10 ha EWS scale—of 80-tons of carbon sequestration and 334 kg of phosphorus recovery versus 60-tons of carbon and 298 kg of phosphorus with pyrochars. Our findings suggest innovative materials for resource recovery, advancing the engineered wetland systems field, shifting their traditional use, and opening the opportunity for future integration into biorefineries.

Original language	English
Article number	151916
Journal	Chemical Engineering Journal
Volume	492
Number of pages	20
ISSN	1385-8947
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2024.151916
Publication status	Published - Jul 2024

Keywords

Carbon sequestration
Engineered wetland systems
Hydrothermal carbonization
Phosphorus recovery
Pyrolysis
X-ray micro-computed tomography

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10.1016/j.cej.2024.151916Licence: CC BY

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Acosta, A. C., Arias, C. A., Biller, P., Wittig, N. K., Baragau, I. A., Alhnidi, M. J., Ravenni, G., Sárossy, Z., Benedini, L., Abramiuc, L. E., Popescu, D. G., Negassa, W., Marulanda, V. F., Müller-Stöver, D. S., & Brix, H. (2024). Hydrothermal carbonization and pyrolysis in wetland engineering: Carbon sequestration, phosphorus recovery, and structural characterization of willow-based chars with X-ray μ-computed tomography. Chemical Engineering Journal, 492, Article 151916. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2024.151916

@article{3bd94de6ada54d219ef2e2f261741fd4,

title = "Hydrothermal carbonization and pyrolysis in wetland engineering: Carbon sequestration, phosphorus recovery, and structural characterization of willow-based chars with X-ray μ-computed tomography",

abstract = "Willows from engineered wetland systems (EWS) offer a sustainable approach to wastewater treatment and biomass production. Our study assesses their potential for nutrient recovery and carbon sequestration using slow pyrolysis (600 °C) and hydrothermal carbonization (250 °C). Here, we propose EWS-pyrochars as a ready-to integrate opportunity for soil amendment, as they exhibit a predominant CO2 release and the absence of harmful compounds in pyrolysis-chromatograms, indicating higher stability than hydrochars. Using sequential P-extractions, we observed a high bioavailability in the willow-woodchips and a significant P-retention in EWS-chars—up to 92 % in pyrochars and near-complete retention in hydrochars, along with a higher labile-P fraction of 21 % in hydrochars than 5 % in pyrochars. Utilizing X-ray-based techniques, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and gas physisorption, we characterized the EWS-chars' structures. We revealed innovative 3D-visualizations, which transcend previous literature by providing insights into the chars' internal porosity and quantifying, for the first time, their carbonaceous structural thickness via a meshing algorithm and the mean Feret diameter. EWS-pyrochars exhibit remarkable aromaticity with a higher concentration of overall sp2 C-atoms at 63 % vs. 43 % in hydrochars. Moreover, unlike hydrochars, which depict occluded porosity, EWS-pyrochars exhibited 92 % water storage-like pores. Although hydrochars indicated lower carbonization and thermal stability than pyrochars, their higher carbon retention (55 vs. 41 % in pyrochar) suggest superior annual benefits—on a 10 ha EWS scale—of 80-tons of carbon sequestration and 334 kg of phosphorus recovery versus 60-tons of carbon and 298 kg of phosphorus with pyrochars. Our findings suggest innovative materials for resource recovery, advancing the engineered wetland systems field, shifting their traditional use, and opening the opportunity for future integration into biorefineries.",

keywords = "Carbon sequestration, Engineered wetland systems, Hydrothermal carbonization, Phosphorus recovery, Pyrolysis, X-ray micro-computed tomography",

author = "Acosta, {Andr{\'e}s C.} and Arias, {Carlos A.} and Patrick Biller and Wittig, {Nina K.} and Baragau, {Ioan Alexandru} and Alhnidi, {M. Jamal} and Giulia Ravenni and Zsuzsa S{\'a}rossy and Lidia Benedini and Abramiuc, {Laura Elena} and Popescu, {Dana Georgeta} and Wakene Negassa and Marulanda, {Victor F.} and M{\"u}ller-St{\"o}ver, {Dorette S.} and Hans Brix",

year = "2024",

month = jul,

doi = "10.1016/j.cej.2024.151916",

language = "English",

volume = "492",

journal = "Chemical Engineering Journal",

issn = "1385-8947",

publisher = "Elsevier",

}

Acosta, AC, Arias, CA , Biller, P, Wittig, NK, Baragau, IA, Alhnidi, MJ, Ravenni, G, Sárossy, Z, Benedini, L, Abramiuc, LE, Popescu, DG, Negassa, W, Marulanda, VF, Müller-Stöver, DS & Brix, H 2024, 'Hydrothermal carbonization and pyrolysis in wetland engineering: Carbon sequestration, phosphorus recovery, and structural characterization of willow-based chars with X-ray μ-computed tomography', Chemical Engineering Journal, vol. 492, 151916. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2024.151916

Hydrothermal carbonization and pyrolysis in wetland engineering: Carbon sequestration, phosphorus recovery, and structural characterization of willow-based chars with X-ray μ-computed tomography. / Acosta, Andrés C.; Arias, Carlos A.; Biller, Patrick et al.
In: Chemical Engineering Journal, Vol. 492, 151916, 07.2024.

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaper › Journal article › Research › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Hydrothermal carbonization and pyrolysis in wetland engineering

T2 - Carbon sequestration, phosphorus recovery, and structural characterization of willow-based chars with X-ray μ-computed tomography

AU - Acosta, Andrés C.

AU - Arias, Carlos A.

AU - Biller, Patrick

AU - Wittig, Nina K.

AU - Baragau, Ioan Alexandru

AU - Alhnidi, M. Jamal

AU - Ravenni, Giulia

AU - Sárossy, Zsuzsa

AU - Benedini, Lidia

AU - Abramiuc, Laura Elena

AU - Popescu, Dana Georgeta

AU - Negassa, Wakene

AU - Marulanda, Victor F.

AU - Müller-Stöver, Dorette S.

AU - Brix, Hans

PY - 2024/7

Y1 - 2024/7

N2 - Willows from engineered wetland systems (EWS) offer a sustainable approach to wastewater treatment and biomass production. Our study assesses their potential for nutrient recovery and carbon sequestration using slow pyrolysis (600 °C) and hydrothermal carbonization (250 °C). Here, we propose EWS-pyrochars as a ready-to integrate opportunity for soil amendment, as they exhibit a predominant CO2 release and the absence of harmful compounds in pyrolysis-chromatograms, indicating higher stability than hydrochars. Using sequential P-extractions, we observed a high bioavailability in the willow-woodchips and a significant P-retention in EWS-chars—up to 92 % in pyrochars and near-complete retention in hydrochars, along with a higher labile-P fraction of 21 % in hydrochars than 5 % in pyrochars. Utilizing X-ray-based techniques, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and gas physisorption, we characterized the EWS-chars' structures. We revealed innovative 3D-visualizations, which transcend previous literature by providing insights into the chars' internal porosity and quantifying, for the first time, their carbonaceous structural thickness via a meshing algorithm and the mean Feret diameter. EWS-pyrochars exhibit remarkable aromaticity with a higher concentration of overall sp2 C-atoms at 63 % vs. 43 % in hydrochars. Moreover, unlike hydrochars, which depict occluded porosity, EWS-pyrochars exhibited 92 % water storage-like pores. Although hydrochars indicated lower carbonization and thermal stability than pyrochars, their higher carbon retention (55 vs. 41 % in pyrochar) suggest superior annual benefits—on a 10 ha EWS scale—of 80-tons of carbon sequestration and 334 kg of phosphorus recovery versus 60-tons of carbon and 298 kg of phosphorus with pyrochars. Our findings suggest innovative materials for resource recovery, advancing the engineered wetland systems field, shifting their traditional use, and opening the opportunity for future integration into biorefineries.

AB - Willows from engineered wetland systems (EWS) offer a sustainable approach to wastewater treatment and biomass production. Our study assesses their potential for nutrient recovery and carbon sequestration using slow pyrolysis (600 °C) and hydrothermal carbonization (250 °C). Here, we propose EWS-pyrochars as a ready-to integrate opportunity for soil amendment, as they exhibit a predominant CO2 release and the absence of harmful compounds in pyrolysis-chromatograms, indicating higher stability than hydrochars. Using sequential P-extractions, we observed a high bioavailability in the willow-woodchips and a significant P-retention in EWS-chars—up to 92 % in pyrochars and near-complete retention in hydrochars, along with a higher labile-P fraction of 21 % in hydrochars than 5 % in pyrochars. Utilizing X-ray-based techniques, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and gas physisorption, we characterized the EWS-chars' structures. We revealed innovative 3D-visualizations, which transcend previous literature by providing insights into the chars' internal porosity and quantifying, for the first time, their carbonaceous structural thickness via a meshing algorithm and the mean Feret diameter. EWS-pyrochars exhibit remarkable aromaticity with a higher concentration of overall sp2 C-atoms at 63 % vs. 43 % in hydrochars. Moreover, unlike hydrochars, which depict occluded porosity, EWS-pyrochars exhibited 92 % water storage-like pores. Although hydrochars indicated lower carbonization and thermal stability than pyrochars, their higher carbon retention (55 vs. 41 % in pyrochar) suggest superior annual benefits—on a 10 ha EWS scale—of 80-tons of carbon sequestration and 334 kg of phosphorus recovery versus 60-tons of carbon and 298 kg of phosphorus with pyrochars. Our findings suggest innovative materials for resource recovery, advancing the engineered wetland systems field, shifting their traditional use, and opening the opportunity for future integration into biorefineries.

KW - Carbon sequestration

KW - Engineered wetland systems

KW - Hydrothermal carbonization

KW - Phosphorus recovery

KW - Pyrolysis

KW - X-ray micro-computed tomography

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85193201093&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.cej.2024.151916

DO - 10.1016/j.cej.2024.151916

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:85193201093

SN - 1385-8947

VL - 492

JO - Chemical Engineering Journal

JF - Chemical Engineering Journal

M1 - 151916

ER -

Hydrothermal carbonization and pyrolysis in wetland engineering: Carbon sequestration, phosphorus recovery, and structural characterization of willow-based chars with X-ray μ-computed tomography

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