Introduction to Hydrothermal Carbonization (HTC)
Processwater utilization as a key component of resource cycling
One important issue to address in organic resource handling is the treatment of water. Like methane fermentation, any technology that utilizes wet biomass will yield water. In the case of conventional carbonization utilizing torrefaction or pyrolysis, the feedstock needed to be dried or drained and yet it would still yield wood and bamboo vinegar (pyroligneous acid) which has less merit as a fertilizer and a bit more difficult handle, its use being mostly insect repellants or deodorizers and disinfectants.
In the case of HTC, because hydrolysis effectively separates only the carbon from the input material, the processwater is a rich mix of nutrients from the original feedstock and can be potentially used for liquid fertilizer (via a vacuum distillation module) or be used directly for hydroponics. Depending on the safety of the input material, produce for consumption could be cultivated or feed and energy crops with the additional benefit of eradicating processwater that needs discharging.
Alternatively, the separation characteristic of the HTC process may be effective in separating or sequestering heavy metals or contamination through distillation or absorption by special function plants that can be cultivated using the processwater.
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