ASSESSMENT OF HEAVY METALS IN HYDROCHAR PRODUCED BY HYDROTHERMAL CARBONIZATION OF DAIRY MANURE

doi:10.15302/J-FASE-2023507

Front. Agr. Sci. Eng.

2023, Vol. 10

Issue (3) : 437-447 https://doi.org/10.15302/J-FASE-2023507

RESEARCH ARTICLE

ASSESSMENT OF HEAVY METALS IN HYDROCHAR PRODUCED BY HYDROTHERMAL CARBONIZATION OF DAIRY MANURE

B. Brian HE¹(

), Zheting BI², Lide CHEN³

¹. Chemical & Biological Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Idaho, 875 Perimeter Drive MS 0904, Moscow, ID 83844, USA
². Shape Therapeutics, 700 Dexter Avenue North, SL15, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
³. Soil and Water Systems, Twin Falls Research and Extension Center, University of Idaho, 315 Falls Ave., Twin Falls, ID 83303, USA

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Abstract

● Content of heavy metals in hydrochar varies considerably, from 50% to 100%.

● Concentrations of heavy metals in hydrochar can be higher than those in the dairy manure.

● Concentrations of heavy metals in hydrochar are far below the regulatory level.

Hydrochar produced from dairy manure is a regulated biosolid if being promoted for agricultural applications thus must have the properties that comply with all environmental standards and government regulations, including the levels of heavy metals (HMs). In this study, systematic research was conducted on HM levels in hydrochar from dairy manure and on the effects of processing conditions, including processing temperature (180–255 °C), holding time (30–120 min) and solid content of manure slurry (2%–15%), through a central composite design and statistical analyses. It was found that HMs can be retained in hydrochar, ranging from 40% to 100%. The processing temperature and solid content in the feed were the most influential process parameters that affected HMs retention in hydrochar. Statistical analysis showed that there was no single optimal point to minimize HMs retained in hydrochar, but there were minimization points at given processing time and solid content. Most HMs concentrations were higher in hydrochar than those initially in dairy manure but were greatly below the thresholds as set by the US government regulations. Thus, hydrochar is feasible for use as a phosphorus-enriched organic fertilizer and/or soil amendment for agricultural applications without serious concerns about HMs it might contain.

Keywords heavy metals dairy manure hydrochar hydrothermal carbonization waste management

Corresponding Author(s): B. Brian HE

Just Accepted Date: 26 May 2023 Online First Date: 28 June 2023 Issue Date: 20 September 2023

Cite this article:

B. Brian HE,Zheting BI,Lide CHEN. ASSESSMENT OF HEAVY METALS IN HYDROCHAR PRODUCED BY HYDROTHERMAL CARBONIZATION OF DAIRY MANURE[J]. Front. Agr. Sci. Eng. , 2023, 10(3): 437-447.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/fase/EN/10.15302/J-FASE-2023507
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fase/EN/Y2023/V10/I3/437

Tab.1 US Environmental Protection Agency regulatory determination and pollutant limits for land applied sewage sludge^§

Tab.2 Heavy metal contents in the dairy manure used for this study

Tab.3 Process parameters in CCD and experimental results on Cr retention in hydrochar

Fig.1 Processing temperature effect on (a) concentrations and (b) retention rates of heavy metals in manure and hydrochar samples. Experiments were conducted in triplicate at 60 min of processing holding time and 10% of solid content.

Fig.2 Effect of processing holding time on (a) concentrations and (b) retention rates of heavy metals in manure and hydrochar samples. Experiments were conducted in triplicate at 215 °C and 10% of solid content.

Fig.3 Effect of solid content on (a) concentrations and (b) retention rates of heavy metals in manure and hydrochar samples. Experiments were conducted in triplicate at 215 °C and 60 min of processing holding time.

Tab.4 ANOVA of process parameters on Cr retention rates in hydrochar

Tab.5 Y-hat model regression^*

Fig.4 Multiple plots of process parameters and interactions on Cr retention rates.

Fig.5 Y-hat interaction plots showing the effects of (a) process parameters of processing temperature, holding time and solid content and (b) processing temperature and time at a constant solid content of 10%.

Tab.6 Summary of heavy metals in hydrochar produced from dairy manure under various processing condition

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