Co-Hydrothermal Carbonization of Sawdust and Sewage Sludge: Assessing the Potential of the Hydrochar as an Adsorbent and the Ecotoxicity of the Process Water

Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) is a promising thermochemical process to convert residues into hydrochar. While conventional HTC utilizes one type of residue as raw material only, Co-HTC generally combines two. By mixing dry and wet wastes, Co-HTC can advantageously avoid water addition. Therefore,...

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Main Authors: Matheus Cavali, Thuanne Braúlio Hennig, Nelson Libardi Junior, Boram Kim, Vincent Garnier, Hassen Benbelkacem, Rémy Bayard, Adenise Lorenci Woiciechowski, William Gerson Matias, Armando Borges de Castilhos Junior
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Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Applied Sciences
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/3/1052
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author Matheus Cavali
Thuanne Braúlio Hennig
Nelson Libardi Junior
Boram Kim
Vincent Garnier
Hassen Benbelkacem
Rémy Bayard
Adenise Lorenci Woiciechowski
William Gerson Matias
Armando Borges de Castilhos Junior
author_facet Matheus Cavali
Thuanne Braúlio Hennig
Nelson Libardi Junior
Boram Kim
Vincent Garnier
Hassen Benbelkacem
Rémy Bayard
Adenise Lorenci Woiciechowski
William Gerson Matias
Armando Borges de Castilhos Junior
author_sort Matheus Cavali
collection DOAJ
description Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) is a promising thermochemical process to convert residues into hydrochar. While conventional HTC utilizes one type of residue as raw material only, Co-HTC generally combines two. By mixing dry and wet wastes, Co-HTC can advantageously avoid water addition. Therefore, this work investigated the potential of hydrochar derived from the Co-HTC of sawdust and non-dewatered sewage sludge as a dye (methylene blue) adsorbent and evaluated the toxicity of the resulting Co-HTC process water (PW) on <i>Daphnia magna</i>. Three hydrochars were produced by Co-HTC at 180, 215, and 250 °C and named H-180, H-215, and H-250, respectively. For methylene blue adsorption, H-180 and H-215 had a better performance than H-250. Both H-180 and H-215 presented a maximum adsorption capacity of approximately 70 mg·g<sup>−1</sup>, which was superior compared with the adsorption of methylene blue by other hydrochars in the literature. Moreover, the removal percentage obtained with H-180 remained satisfactory even after five cycles. Regarding the toxicological assays of the PWs, raising the Co-HTC temperature increased the variety of substances in the PW composition, resulting in higher toxicity to <i>D. magna</i>. The EC<sub>50</sub> values of PW-180, PW-215, and PW-250 were 1.13%, 0.97%, and 0.51%, respectively. This highlights the importance of searching for the treatment and valorization of the PW. Instead of viewing this by-product as an effluent to be treated and disposed of, it is imperative to assess the potential of PWs for obtaining other higher added-value products.
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spelling doaj-art-d8c3ac71c472400f9e7a849c4aca37fe2025-08-20T02:48:01ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-01-01153105210.3390/app15031052Co-Hydrothermal Carbonization of Sawdust and Sewage Sludge: Assessing the Potential of the Hydrochar as an Adsorbent and the Ecotoxicity of the Process WaterMatheus Cavali0Thuanne Braúlio Hennig1Nelson Libardi Junior2Boram Kim3Vincent Garnier4Hassen Benbelkacem5Rémy Bayard6Adenise Lorenci Woiciechowski7William Gerson Matias8Armando Borges de Castilhos Junior9Department of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis 88040-970, SC, BrazilDepartment of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis 88040-970, SC, BrazilDepartment of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis 88040-970, SC, BrazilDEEP Laboratory, EA 7429, National Institute of Applied Sciences of Lyon, 69621 Villeurbanne, FranceMATEIS Laboratory, UMR 5510, National Institute of Applied Sciences of Lyon, 69621 Villeurbanne, FranceDEEP Laboratory, EA 7429, National Institute of Applied Sciences of Lyon, 69621 Villeurbanne, FranceDEEP Laboratory, EA 7429, National Institute of Applied Sciences of Lyon, 69621 Villeurbanne, FranceDepartment of Bioprocess Engineering and Biotechnology, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba 81531-908, PR, BrazilDepartment of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis 88040-970, SC, BrazilDepartment of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis 88040-970, SC, BrazilHydrothermal carbonization (HTC) is a promising thermochemical process to convert residues into hydrochar. While conventional HTC utilizes one type of residue as raw material only, Co-HTC generally combines two. By mixing dry and wet wastes, Co-HTC can advantageously avoid water addition. Therefore, this work investigated the potential of hydrochar derived from the Co-HTC of sawdust and non-dewatered sewage sludge as a dye (methylene blue) adsorbent and evaluated the toxicity of the resulting Co-HTC process water (PW) on <i>Daphnia magna</i>. Three hydrochars were produced by Co-HTC at 180, 215, and 250 °C and named H-180, H-215, and H-250, respectively. For methylene blue adsorption, H-180 and H-215 had a better performance than H-250. Both H-180 and H-215 presented a maximum adsorption capacity of approximately 70 mg·g<sup>−1</sup>, which was superior compared with the adsorption of methylene blue by other hydrochars in the literature. Moreover, the removal percentage obtained with H-180 remained satisfactory even after five cycles. Regarding the toxicological assays of the PWs, raising the Co-HTC temperature increased the variety of substances in the PW composition, resulting in higher toxicity to <i>D. magna</i>. The EC<sub>50</sub> values of PW-180, PW-215, and PW-250 were 1.13%, 0.97%, and 0.51%, respectively. This highlights the importance of searching for the treatment and valorization of the PW. Instead of viewing this by-product as an effluent to be treated and disposed of, it is imperative to assess the potential of PWs for obtaining other higher added-value products.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/3/1052hydrothermal carbonizationadsorptionmethylene blueecotoxicity<i>Daphnia magna</i>waste valorization
spellingShingle Matheus Cavali
Thuanne Braúlio Hennig
Nelson Libardi Junior
Boram Kim
Vincent Garnier
Hassen Benbelkacem
Rémy Bayard
Adenise Lorenci Woiciechowski
William Gerson Matias
Armando Borges de Castilhos Junior
Co-Hydrothermal Carbonization of Sawdust and Sewage Sludge: Assessing the Potential of the Hydrochar as an Adsorbent and the Ecotoxicity of the Process Water
Applied Sciences
hydrothermal carbonization
adsorption
methylene blue
ecotoxicity
<i>Daphnia magna</i>
waste valorization
title Co-Hydrothermal Carbonization of Sawdust and Sewage Sludge: Assessing the Potential of the Hydrochar as an Adsorbent and the Ecotoxicity of the Process Water
title_full Co-Hydrothermal Carbonization of Sawdust and Sewage Sludge: Assessing the Potential of the Hydrochar as an Adsorbent and the Ecotoxicity of the Process Water
title_fullStr Co-Hydrothermal Carbonization of Sawdust and Sewage Sludge: Assessing the Potential of the Hydrochar as an Adsorbent and the Ecotoxicity of the Process Water
title_full_unstemmed Co-Hydrothermal Carbonization of Sawdust and Sewage Sludge: Assessing the Potential of the Hydrochar as an Adsorbent and the Ecotoxicity of the Process Water
title_short Co-Hydrothermal Carbonization of Sawdust and Sewage Sludge: Assessing the Potential of the Hydrochar as an Adsorbent and the Ecotoxicity of the Process Water
title_sort co hydrothermal carbonization of sawdust and sewage sludge assessing the potential of the hydrochar as an adsorbent and the ecotoxicity of the process water
topic hydrothermal carbonization
adsorption
methylene blue
ecotoxicity
<i>Daphnia magna</i>
waste valorization
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/3/1052
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