Difference between revisions of "Hydrothermal processing"

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Technology

Technology details
Name:	Hydrothermal processing
Category:	Conversion (Thermochemical processes and technologies)
Feedstock:	Feedstocks with high moisture content. Food waste, Garden and park waste
Product:	Bio-crude, syngas, hydrochar

Hydrothermal processing, also known as Hydrothermal Upgrading (HTU), is a thermochemical conversion process that is used to convert biomass into valuable products or biofuel. The process is usually performed in water at 250-374°C under pressures of 4-22 MPa. The biomass is degraded into small components in water. Based on the target products, which are bio-crude, syngas or hydrochar, the process conditions (e.g., temperature, pressure and residence time) are chosen. One of the most important advantages of hydrothermal processing is that it can use biomass with high moisture content withouth the need for pre-drying. Hydrothermal processing can be divided into three separate processes, depending on the severity of the operating conditions. These include hydrothermal carbonisation (HTC), hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL), and hydrothermal gasification (HTG).

Feedstock

Origin and composition

Feedstocks with high moisture content are particularly suitable for hydrothermal processing and include feedstocks such as anaerobic digestion digestate, manures, sewage sludge, DDGS, food waste, municipal wastes, and aquatic biomass such as micro- and macroalgae. Hydrothermal processing routes can typically feed slurries up to 30 wt.% solids.

Pre-treatment

Process and technologies

Process

A hydrothermal process is usually performed in water at 250-374°C under a pressure of 4-22 MPa. The process can also be carried out under self-generated pressure. The hydrothermal process is divided into two reaction conditions, namely subcritical and supercritical water conditions. These two conditions are determined by the critical point of water (i.e., 374°C and 22.1 MPa). Subcritical water is classified below the critical point at a 100-374°C temperature range and under sufficient pressure to remain liquid. Supercritical water occurs when the temperature is above 374°C and the pressure is above 22.1 MPa. The decomposition steps of biomass during the hydrothermal process can be summarized as follows: at approximately 100°C, the water-soluble portion of the biomass disperses into water, and hydrolysis takes place above 150°C. Meanwhile, biomass polymers (i.e., cellulose and hemicellulose) disintegrate into their monomeric chains. At approximately 300°C and 10 MPa, liquefaction occurs and bio-oil is obtained.

Technologies

HTC occurs at temperatures between 180°C and 250°C and pressure of 2-4 MPa. This is the mildest of the three hydrothermal processing routes. The main product of HTC is solid hydrochar.

HTL utilises subcritical water and occurs at temperatures between 250°C and 374°C and pressures up to 18 MPa. The main product of HTL is a liquid biocrude.

HTG or supercritical water gasification (SCWG) occurs at temperatures above 374°C and higher pressures beyond 20 MPa. The main product of HTG is a syngas.

Product

Depending on the technology, hydrochar, biocrude or syngas is produced. The produced gas is not the same as conventional syngas from gasification, which is comprised of hydrogen and carbon monoxide. Nevertheless, the gas is referred to as syngas but is typically high in either hydrogen or methane with carbon dioxide also present. The hydrochar can be utilised as fertilizers, adsorbents, and wastewater treatments. The intermediate biocrude can be further upgraded to liquid hydrocarbon fuels via catalytic hydrotreatment.

Post-treatment

Technology providers

**Technology comparison**
Company name	Country	Technology subcategory	Technology name	TRL	Capacity [kg/h]	Pressure [bar]	Temperature [°C]	Reactor	Gasifying agent	Feedstock: Food waste	Feedstock: Garden & park waste	Product: Char	Product: Oil

Luleå University of Technology LTU	Sweden	-	Organosolv pre-treatment	6-7	-	30	230	Continuous organosolv reactor	-		●		●
Montinutra OY	Finland	-	Hydrothermal processing, pressured hot water extraction	7	0.11	-	150-200	-	-		●
TerraNova Energy GmbH	Germany	-	TerraNova ultra	8-9	-	20-35	180-200	Hydrothermal carbonization	-	●	●	●

Luleå University of Technology LTU

Hydrothermal processing provider
General information
Company:	Luleå University of Technology
Country:	Sweden
Contact:	Tobias Wretborn tobias.wretborn@ltu.se
Webpage:	https://www.ltu.se/
Technology and process details
Technology name:	Organosolv pre-treatment	Technology category:	Conversion (Thermochemical processes and technologies)
TRL:	6-7	Capacity:	0,7 l/min (biomass) kg·h^-1
Gasifying agent:	not relevant	Pressure:	Up to 30 bar bar
Reactor:	Continuous organosolv reactor	Temperature:	Up to 230 °C °C
		Other:	not relevant
Feedstock and product details
Feedstock:	Lignocellulosic biomass	Product:	Cellulose rich pulp, Lignin and Hemicellulose rich process liquor

Department of Civil, Environmental and Natural Resources Engineering: Humanity faces enormous challenges in the areas of energy, environment, raw materials, water resources and security. By research and education in the areas of mining, civil and environmental engineering, we take responsibility for the development of a sustainable society. We are about 400 people of about 50 nationalities, of which 200 are doctoral students and just over 50 professors. You will find us in the T-pavilion and the C-house on the university campus in Luleå. You will find our Lab activities in the F-house and the C-house. Our research and education are characterized by a strong experimental and applied profile with several large and well-equipped laboratories. All activities are quality assured by our dedicated professors and lecturers in an exclusive and successful collaboration with industry and the public sector. 65% of our research is externally funded and we have well-developed international collaborations with universities in all continents.

Montinutra Ltd. (Boreal Bioproducts™)

Hydrothermal processing provider
General information
Company:	Montinutra Ltd. (Boreal Bioproducts™)
Country:	Finland
Contact:	Jaakko Pajunen, Managing Director Mobile: +358 44 34 35 162 Email: firstname(at)borealbioproducts.com
Webpage:	https://www.borealbioproducts.com
Technology and process details
Technology name:	Hydrothermal processing, pressured hot water extraction	Technology category:	Conversion (Thermochemical processes and technologies)
TRL:	7	Capacity:	1 metric ton per year kg·h^-1
Gasifying agent:	not relevant	Pressure:	disclosed on demand bar
Reactor:	not relevant	Temperature:	150-200 °C
		Other:	not relevant
Feedstock and product details
Feedstock:	woody biomass, forest industry side stream, sawdust, spruce	Product:	- SpruceSugar (a galactoglucomannan rich pressurised hot water extract); - thermally treated wood for biocomposites, or furniture, or MDF; - lignin extract - other on demand

Montinutra Ltd. (Boreal Bioproducts™) produces high value bioactive products from forest industry side streams. Our mission is to convert forest industry side streams into valuable ingredients for the cosmetics, food & beverage and chemical industries with our scalable technology. Montinutra Ltd. (Boreal Bioproducts™) has strong research and innovation background and a solid patent portfolio in key markets globally.

Roadmap: we are currently operating in pilot-scale. Our operation in Turku, Finland have capability and knowhow to extract high value bioactive compounds out of sawdust. Preparing to build industrial scale operation in 2026-2027 that will produce sustainable and ethical SpruceSugar™ extract from sawdust. Sawmills produce millions of tons of sawdust and bark globally. Current commercial value of these side streams is low. Montinutra Ltd. (Boreal Bioproducts™) can add significant value by extracting high value bioactive compounds from those low value side streams. Sawdust and bark are usually incinerated in bio-power plants and the economic value add remains low, in addition to which the burning process causes greenhouse gas emissions.

TerraNova Energy GmbH

Hydrothermal processing provider
General information
Company:	Terranova Energy GmbH
Country:	Germany
Contact:	info@terranova-energy.com
Webpage:	https://www.terranova-energy.com/en/
Technology and process details
Technology name:	TerraNova ultra	Technology category:	Conversion (Thermochemical processes and technologies)
TRL:	8-9	Capacity:	kg·h^-1
Gasifying agent:		Pressure:	20 - 35 bar
Reactor:	Hydrothermal carbonization	Temperature:	180 - 200 °C
		Other:
Feedstock and product details
Feedstock:	Dewatered sewage sludge or shredded biowaste with a dry matter content of 5-30%	Product:	biocoal; carbon-rich process water (by-product)

TerraNova Energy is a pioneer in Hydrothermal Carbonization of sludge and biowaste. In 2010, TerraNova Energy constructed the first HTC demonstration plant in Europe, and subsequently, constructed the first commercial HTC plant worldwide in 2016. The advantage of the TerraNova ultra process is that it takes place in an aqueous environment, so that no drying of the input material is necessary. Furthermore, the TerraNova ultra units have a highly efficient recovery system, which minimizes the heat demand of the HTC process. The HTC coal contains hardly any water and, thanks to its high energy content, can be used for climate-friendly energy generation in coal-fired power plants or as a substitute for fossil fuels in cement plants or waste incineration plants.

Open access pilot and demo facility providers

Pilots4U Database

Patents

Currently no patents have been identified.

References

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{Infobox technology
 |Name=Hydrothermal processing
-|Category=[[Primary processing]]
+|Category=[[Conversion]] ([[Conversion#Thermochemical_processes_and_technologies|Thermochemical processes and technologies]])
 |Feedstock =Feedstocks with high moisture content. [[Food waste]], [[Garden and park waste]]
 |Product =Bio-crude, syngas, hydrochar
@@ Line 18: / Line 18: @@
 === Process ===
-A hydrothermal process is usually performed in water at 250-374°C under a pressure of 4-22 MPa. The process can also be carried out under self-generated pressure. The hydrothermal process is divided into two reaction conditions, namely subcritical and supercritical water conditions. These two conditions are determined by the critical point of water (i.e., 374°C and 22.1 MPa). Subcritical water is classified below the critical point at a 100-374°C temperature range and under sufficient pressure to remain liquid. Supercritical water occurs when the temperature is above 374°C and the pressure is above 22.1 MPa. The decomposition steps of biomass during the hydrothermal process can be summarized as follows: at approximately 100°C, the water-soluble portion of the biomsas disperses into water, and hydrolysis takes place above 150°C. Meanwhile, biomass polymers (i.e., cellulose and hemicellulose) disintegrate into heir monomeric chains. At approximately 300°C and 10 MPa, liquefaction occurs and bio-oil is obtained.
+A hydrothermal process is usually performed in water at 250-374°C under a pressure of 4-22 MPa. The process can also be carried out under self-generated pressure. The hydrothermal process is divided into two reaction conditions, namely subcritical and supercritical water conditions. These two conditions are determined by the critical point of water (i.e., 374°C and 22.1 MPa). Subcritical water is classified below the critical point at a 100-374°C temperature range and under sufficient pressure to remain liquid. Supercritical water occurs when the temperature is above 374°C and the pressure is above 22.1 MPa. The decomposition steps of biomass during the hydrothermal process can be summarized as follows: at approximately 100°C, the water-soluble portion of the biomass disperses into water, and hydrolysis takes place above 150°C. Meanwhile, biomass polymers (i.e., cellulose and hemicellulose) disintegrate into their monomeric chains. At approximately 300°C and 10 MPa, liquefaction occurs and bio-oil is obtained.
 === Technologies ===
@@ Line 24: / Line 24: @@
 * HTC occurs at temperatures between 180°C and 250°C and pressure of 2-4 MPa. This is the mildest of the three hydrothermal processing routes. The main product of HTC is solid hydrochar.
-* HTL utilises subcritical water and occurs at temperatures between 250°C and 374°C and pressures up to 18 MPa. The main product of HTL is a liquid bio-crude.
+* HTL utilises subcritical water and occurs at temperatures between 250°C and 374°C and pressures up to 18 MPa. The main product of HTL is a liquid biocrude.
 * HTG or supercritical water gasification (SCWG) occurs at temperatures above 374°C and higher pressures beyond 20 MPa. The main product of HTG is a syngas.
 == Product ==
-Dependent on the technology, hydrochar, bio-crude or syngas is produced. The produced gas is not the same as conventional syngas from [[gasification]], which is comprised of hydrogen and carbon monoxide. Nevertheless, the gas is referred to as syngas but is typically high in either hydrogen or methane with carbon dioxide also present. The hydrochar can be utilised as fertilizers, adsorbents, and wastewater treatments. The intermediate biocrude can be further upgraded to liquid hydrocarbon fuels via catalytic hydrotreatment.
+Depending on the technology, hydrochar, biocrude or syngas is produced. The produced gas is not the same as conventional syngas from [[gasification]], which is comprised of hydrogen and carbon monoxide. Nevertheless, the gas is referred to as syngas but is typically high in either hydrogen or methane with carbon dioxide also present. The hydrochar can be utilised as fertilizers, adsorbents, and wastewater treatments. The intermediate biocrude can be further upgraded to liquid hydrocarbon fuels via catalytic hydrotreatment.
 === Post-treatment ===
 == Technology providers ==
-{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
+{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible"
 |+'''Technology comparison'''
 ! class="cd-text-darkgreen" style="vertical-align:{{{va|bottom}}}"| Company name
 ! class="cd-text-darkgreen" style="vertical-align:{{{va|bottom}}}"| Country
-! class="cd-text-darkgreen" style="vertical-align:{{{va|bottom}}}"| Technology category
+! class="cd-text-darkgreen" style="vertical-align:{{{va|bottom}}}"| Technology subcategory
 ! class="cd-text-darkgreen" style="vertical-align:{{{va|bottom}}}"| Technology name
 ! class="cd-text-darkgreen" style="vertical-align:{{{va|bottom}}}"| TRL
@@ Line 68: / Line 68: @@
 !
 |-
-| [[Help:Article content of technology pages#Company_1|Company 1]]
+| [[Hydrothermal processing#Lule.C3.A5 University of Technology LTU|Luleå University of Technology LTU]]
-| [Country HQ location]
+| Sweden
-| [Technology category (if different sub-categories are defined this has to be specified here, the available categories can be found on each technology page under the chapter [[Help:Article content of technology pages#Process_and_technologies|Process and technologies]])]
+| -
-| [Technology name (the "branded name" or the usual naming from company side)]
+| Organosolv pre-treatment
-| [4-9]
+| 6-7
-| [numeric value]
+| -
+|30
+|230
+|Continuous organosolv reactor
+| -
 |
+| class="cd-background-lightgreen cd-text-darkgreen" style="text-align:center" |●
 |
+| class="cd-background-lightgreen cd-text-darkgreen" style="text-align:center" |●
 |
+|-
+| [[Hydrothermal processing#Montinutra OY|Montinutra OY]]
+| Finland
+| -
+| Hydrothermal processing, pressured hot water extraction
+| 7
+| 0.11
+| -
+|150-200
+| -
+| -
 |
 | class="cd-background-lightgreen cd-text-darkgreen" style="text-align:center" |●
-| class="cd-background-lightgreen cd-text-darkgreen" style="text-align:center" |●
-| class="cd-background-lightgreen cd-text-darkgreen" style="text-align:center" |●
-| class="cd-background-lightgreen cd-text-darkgreen" style="text-align:center" |●
-| class="cd-background-lightgreen cd-text-darkgreen" style="text-align:center" |●
-|-
-| [[Help:Article content of technology pages#Company_2|Company 2]]
-| [Country HQ location]
-| [(if different sub-categories are defined this has to be specified here, the available categories can be found on each technology page under the chapter [[Help:Article content of technology pages#Process_and_technologies|Process and technologies]])]
-| [Technology name (the "branded name" or the usual naming from company side)]
-| [4-9]
-| [numeric value]
-|
 |
 |
 |
+|-
+|[[Hydrothermal processing#TerraNova Energy GmbH|TerraNova Energy GmbH]]
+|Germany
+| -
+|TerraNova ultra
+|8-9
+| -
+|20-35
+|180-200
+|Hydrothermal carbonization
+| -
 | class="cd-background-lightgreen cd-text-darkgreen" style="text-align:center" |●
 | class="cd-background-lightgreen cd-text-darkgreen" style="text-align:center" |●
 | class="cd-background-lightgreen cd-text-darkgreen" style="text-align:center" |●
-| class="cd-background-lightgreen cd-text-darkgreen" style="text-align:center" |●
+|
-| class="cd-background-lightgreen cd-text-darkgreen" style="text-align:center" |●
+|
 |}
-=== SCF Technologies A/S ===
+=== Luleå University of Technology LTU ===
-{{Infobox provider-hydrothermal processing|Company=SCF Technologies A/S|Country=Denmark|Technology name=CatLiq|TRL=6-7|Product=Bio-oil|Feedstock=Wet biomass waste|Pressure=250|Temperature=>400|Technology category=Thermochemical processes|Capacity=15.000}}
+{{Infobox provider-hydrothermal processing|Company=Luleå University of Technology|Image=DownloadLTU.png|Country=Sweden|Contact=Tobias Wretborn tobias.wretborn@ltu.se|Webpage=https://www.ltu.se/|Feedstock=Lignocellulosic biomass|Reactor=Continuous organosolv reactor|Technology name=Organosolv pre-treatment|TRL=6-7|Gasifying agent=not relevant|Product=Cellulose rich pulp, Lignin and Hemicellulose rich process liquor|Capacity=0,7 l/min (biomass)|Pressure=Up to 30 bar|Temperature=Up to 230 °C|Other=not relevant}}
+Department of Civil, Environmental and Natural Resources Engineering: Humanity faces enormous challenges in the areas of energy, environment, raw materials, water resources and security. By research and education in the areas of mining, civil and environmental engineering, we take responsibility for the development of a sustainable society. We are about 400 people of about 50 nationalities, of which 200 are doctoral students and just over 50 professors. You will find us in the T-pavilion and the C-house on the university campus in Luleå. You will find our Lab activities in the F-house and the C-house. Our research and education are characterized by a strong experimental and applied profile with several large and well-equipped laboratories. All activities are quality assured by our dedicated professors and lecturers in an exclusive and successful collaboration with industry and the public sector. 65% of our research is externally funded and we have well-developed international collaborations with universities in all continents.
-=== Aarhus University ===
+=== Montinutra Ltd. (Boreal Bioproducts™) ===
+{{Infobox provider-hydrothermal processing|Company=Montinutra Ltd. (Boreal Bioproducts™)|Country=Finland|Contact=Jaakko Pajunen, Managing Director
+Mobile: +358 44 34 35 162
+Email: firstname(at)borealbioproducts.com|Webpage=https://www.borealbioproducts.com|Technology name=Hydrothermal processing, pressured hot water extraction|TRL=7|Capacity=1 metric ton per year|Feedstock=woody biomass, forest industry side stream, sawdust, spruce|Product=- SpruceSugar (a galactoglucomannan rich pressurised hot water extract);
+- thermally treated wood for biocomposites, or furniture, or MDF;
+- lignin extract
+- other on demand|Gasifying agent=not relevant|Pressure=disclosed on demand|Reactor=not relevant|Temperature=150-200|Other=not relevant|Image=boreal_bioproducts_logo_black square.png}}
-=== ENI S.p.A (W2F process) (Italy) ===
-=== NextChem ===
-== Open access pilot and demo facility providers ==
+Montinutra Ltd. (Boreal Bioproducts™) produces high value bioactive products from forest industry side streams. Our mission is to convert forest industry side streams into valuable ingredients for the cosmetics, food & beverage and chemical industries with our scalable technology. Montinutra Ltd. (Boreal Bioproducts™) has strong research and innovation background and a solid patent portfolio in key markets globally.
+Roadmap: we are currently operating in pilot-scale. Our operation in Turku, Finland have capability and knowhow to extract high value bioactive compounds out of sawdust. Preparing to build industrial scale operation in 2026-2027 that will produce sustainable and ethical SpruceSugar™ extract from sawdust. Sawmills produce millions of tons of sawdust and bark globally. Current commercial value of these side streams is low. Montinutra Ltd. (Boreal Bioproducts™) can add significant value by extracting high value bioactive compounds from those low value side streams. Sawdust and bark are usually incinerated in bio-power plants and the economic value add remains low, in addition to which the burning process causes greenhouse gas emissions.
+===TerraNova Energy GmbH===
+{{Infobox provider-hydrothermal processing|Company=Terranova Energy GmbH|Country=Germany|Contact=info@terranova-energy.com|Technology name=TerraNova ultra|TRL=8-9|Pressure=20 - 35|Temperature=180 - 200|Reactor=Hydrothermal carbonization|Feedstock=Dewatered sewage sludge or shredded biowaste with a dry matter content of 5-30%|Product=biocoal; carbon-rich process water (by-product)|Webpage=https://www.terranova-energy.com/en/}}
+TerraNova Energy is a pioneer in Hydrothermal Carbonization of sludge and biowaste. In 2010, TerraNova Energy constructed the first HTC demonstration plant in Europe, and subsequently, constructed the first commercial HTC plant worldwide in 2016. The advantage of the TerraNova ultra process is that it takes place in an aqueous environment, so that no drying of the input material is necessary. Furthermore, the TerraNova ultra units have a highly efficient recovery system, which minimizes the heat demand of the HTC process. The HTC coal contains hardly any water and, thanks to its high energy content, can be used for climate-friendly energy generation in coal-fired power plants or as a substitute for fossil fuels in cement plants or waste incineration plants.
+==Open access pilot and demo facility providers==
 [https://biopilots4u.eu/database?field_technology_area_data_target_id=109&field_technology_area_target_id%5B86%5D=86&field_contact_address_value_country_code=All&field_scale_value=All&combine=&combine_1= Pilots4U Database]
-== Patents ==
+== Patents==
 Currently no patents have been identified.
-== References ==
+==References==
+[[Category:Conversion]]
+[[Category:Technologies]]