Formation and Transformation of Typical Pollutant from MSW by Hydrothermal Carbonization towards Biofuel Hydrochar Production

An unprecedented increase in municipal solid waste (MSW) is increasingly attractive in response to waste-to-energy. MSW pretreatment is an essential step due to the inherent properties of MSW. Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) offers an efficient approach for converting MSW into carbonaceous hydrochars. In this chapter, the formation and transformation of heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) during HTC of MSW were determined. The results indicated that HTC can homogenize the density and size of MSW and also increase carbon content. Moreover, the concentrations of heavy metals in the leachates of the hydrochars were lower than the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) maximum limits. Compared to MSW, the concentrations of Cr, Cd, Hg, and Zn in the hydrochars were low and the concentrations of Pb, As, Ni, and Cu were high. The concentrations of PAHs in the hydrochars increased with increasing temperature in the range of 1298.71–177698.20 μg/kg, which were much higher than that in MSW, except for H-160. The dominant PAH rings in MSW and the hydrochars were four-ring PAHs and three-ring PAHs, respectively. These findings suggest that 180°C is an appropriate hydrothermal temperature to reduce heavy metals and the toxicity PAHs of MSW.

Titanium Carbide from Carboxylic Acid Modified Alkoxides

ABSTRACTTransition metal carbide precursors have been made in the past by the reaction of alkoxides with polymeric materials to form gels and resins. A new route to transition metal carbide precursors has been developed using alkoxides polymerized with dicarboxylic acids. (Dicarboxylic acid precursors have the advantage of precipitating as powders that can be removed from solvents by filtration and that are not very air sensitive.) Precursors were pyrolyzed under inert or reducing conditions to form metal carbides.The choice of ligand(s) determined the carbon content after pyrolysis. Unsaturated ligands tended to increase carbon content. Materials from oils to fine powders were produced by varying the stereochemistry of the ligands. The morphology of the pyrolyzed product mimicked that of the precipitated powder. Pyrolysis was typically carried out under Ar/H2 at 1200–1600°C. X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used to follow the incorporation of carbon into the lattice.