Hydrothermal Liquefaction of Hazardous Biomass

Hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) is one of the many ways to convert biological feedstocks into liquid fuels that can be applied in various ways. The HTL process utilizes water chemistry at high temperatures and pressures to produce the feedstock into three distinct phases. Using food waste as a feedstock has the potential to reduce the emissions from landfills. Food waste that is processed using HTL can be implemented in compost production due to the high concentrations of nitrogen and water. Another feedstock processed was radioactive algae, with the goal of tracking the phase in which the uranium was transferred to post-conversion. Sewage sludge was also investigated as a feedstock. The HTL process eliminates blood-borne pathogen hazards, making it valuable for real world applications. The nutrients recovered can be used for fertilizer. The current project studies the HTL of resin and bagasse from the guayule shrub. After processing, there are three products: rubber, resin, and bagasse. Using the HTL process, imitating cracking hydrocarbons and removing oxygen containing compounds can be achieved, liquid fuels can be produced and separated. The three phases will be characterized and analyzed for the properties of interest. A known market for these fuels is the jet fuel industry.