Submission Tilte
Advanced Hydrothermal Carbonization and Bioprocess Integration for Sustainable Valorization of Biogenic Waste
Submission Abstract:
The hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) of biogenic residues has emerged over the past decade as a key process in the field of sustainable resource recovery, offering a thermodynamically favorable pathway for the conversion of wet biomass into functional solid, liquid, and gaseous products under subcritical water conditions. Despite its relative maturity compared to other thermochemical processes, HTC still poses numerous scientific and technical challenges linked to the complexity of the multiphase reaction environment and the diversity of feedstock properties.
This thematic issue seeks to bring together cutting-edge research focusing on the fundamental mechanisms, process modeling, and system-level optimization of hydrothermal carbonization applied to a wide range of biogenic wastes, from lignocellulosic biomass to organic sludges.
This thematic issue aims to consolidate recent advances in both fundamental and applied research related to HTC. It will focus on:
The molecular mechanisms governing solid–liquid–gas phase formation and transformation during HTC, integrating experimental and modeling approaches;
Advanced process optimization techniques based on Design of Experiments (DoE) and machine learning (ML) models for predicting product yields, compositions, and functional properties;
The development of predictive structure–function relationships for HTC-derived products through systematic characterization and modeling.
A particular emphasis will be placed on the application potentials of HTC products across multiple sectors, including but not limited to:
Pollutant removal and environmental remediation, through the use of hydrochars as adsorbents or catalysts in water and air treatment processes;
Soil amendment and agronomic applications, leveraging hydrochar's properties to enhance soil fertility, water retention, and carbon sequestration;
Energy production and storage, via the use of hydrochar as a solid biofuel or precursor for advanced carbon materials;
Nutrient recovery and chemical extraction from HTC process water, contributing to circular nutrient management strategies.
By encouraging contributions from both theoretical and applied perspectives, and fostering a multidisciplinary approach combining process engineering, data science, environmental chemistry, and materials science, this thematic issue aims to advance the state of knowledge on HTC as a versatile and scalable platform for sustainable biogenic waste management.