The hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) process is a proposed solution to the large streams of food waste and biosolids from waste water treatment plants that creates a highly valuable, multi-use product. HTC is a thermochemical process that converts wet biomass materials to a coal-like product. The temperature range for HTC is from 180-240oC producing solid hydrochar as the main product. The solid product of hydrothermal carbonization, hydrochar, has multiple applications ranging from a combustion fuel source, a catalyst for anaerobic digestion that increases the purity of methane production, a soil amendment, and the base for other carbon products such as activated carbon.
In this study we will explore the circular economy of utilizing organic wastes into foods. The steps involved in the circular economy system include: 1) collecting organic wastes (specifically food wastes and bio-solids), 2) converting the organic waste streams to hydrochar via HTC process, 3) growing food produced by indoor gardening, and 4) using hydrochar from step 2) as fuels to power the indoor gardens.
A comparative life cycle assessment of our proposed process will be applied to compare conventional farming to our circular economy proposal. We hope to prove a reduction of environmental impacts, such as global warming potential, fossil fuel depletion, natural resource depletion. The life cycle assessment results will aid in a full system analysis which evaluate the proposed circular economy idea from societal, technical, environmental, economic, and political perspectives.
1) https://www.epa.gov/sustainable-management-food/sustainable-management-food-basics
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