Effects of K₂CO₃ and Aqueous Phase Recycling on the Hydrothermal Liquefaction of Corn Stover

Author : Avedaño, Chris Ian Llanera
Major Adviser : Carpio, Rowena B.
Major Co-Adviser : Guerrero, Gino Apollo M.
Committee Members : Detras, Monet Concepcion M.; Bambase Jr., Manolito E.
Year : 2020
Month : July
Type : Thesis
Degree: BS
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Abstract

The effect of K₂CO₃ and aqueous phase recycling on the hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) of corn stover was investigated in terms of different product yields and biocrude oil quality. HTL was conducted at 320 °C for 90 minutes using a laboratory scale tubular reactor. This was done without and with K₂CO₃ at 5 % wt/wt corn stover in experiments using fresh water and three levels of aqueous phase recycling. It was observed that addition of K₂CO₃ increased the biocrude oil yield by up to 80 %. The recycling of aqueous phase also increased the biocrude oil yield by up to 50 % and the HHV by up to 60 %. An increase of 14 % and 65 % in carbon and hydrogen recovery, respectively, was observed when ecycling was included in the process in catalytic experiment. For the GC-MS results, high relative abundance of silicon-containing compounds was observed in the aqueous phase and biocrude oil which possibly came from the corn stover. These compounds have several applications some of which are biomaterials, coatings, and functional fluids. Overall, in addition to decreasing the wastewater and feed water of the HTL process, the recycling of aqueous phase and addition of K2CO3 are beneficial in the HTL of corn stover, and the biocrude oil produced requires further purification process to convert it in its usable form.

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