Waste managementPub Date : 2025-10-03DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2025.115166
Faranak Beigmohammadi , Mark Early , Katie Updegraff , Tien Pham , Greg Curtzwiler , Ian Edhlund , Keith Vorst
{"title":"Microplastic residue in recycled food co-products from mechanical depacking systems: a simulation study for animal food","authors":"Faranak Beigmohammadi , Mark Early , Katie Updegraff , Tien Pham , Greg Curtzwiler , Ian Edhlund , Keith Vorst","doi":"10.1016/j.wasman.2025.115166","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wasman.2025.115166","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study is the first to determine the potential generation and transfer of microplastic (MP) into depacked food co-products from various food packaging using a commercial depacking system. Barium sulfate (BaSO<sub>4</sub>, 564 ± 108 nm) was dispersed into four polymer types, including low-density polyethylene (LDPE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS). Polymers containing BaSO<sub>4</sub> were converted into food packaging matching their traditional packaging. A depacker separated packaging from food co-products. Inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) was applied to quantify BaSO<sub>4</sub> as a MP indicator. Depacked foods were digested using an enzymatic approach to maintain the morphology of MPs then characterized using a 3D surface profiler. BaSO<sub>4</sub> concentration in recovered food from HDPE, LDPE, and PP was below method limit of detection (≤290.65 ng BaSO<sub>4</sub>/g depacked food or ≤ 22.13 µg microplastic/g depacked food). The concentration in depacked food from PS was measured at 1278.65 ± 17.7 µg/g corresponding to low recovery of PS from the depacker. MPs were detected using 3D surface profiling in depacked food from PS after enzymatic digestion. Packaging waste mass recovery from depacking was significantly greater (p < 0.05) for film packaging materials than more rigid/brittle materials suggesting mechanical properties of packaging materials, such as rigid versus flexible containers, can influence MP generation and packaging recovery during depacking. This study also developed a novel method using barium-doped plastic to analyze the release of MPs from food co-products using ICP-OES.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23969,"journal":{"name":"Waste management","volume":"208 ","pages":"Article 115166"},"PeriodicalIF":7.1,"publicationDate":"2025-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145222284","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Waste managementPub Date : 2025-10-03DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2025.115174
Li Zhao , Wenwen Qu , Xianzhi Hu , Futing Zi
{"title":"A tailored nitrogen-rich polymer for highly efficient and selective capture of gold from waste printed circuit boards","authors":"Li Zhao , Wenwen Qu , Xianzhi Hu , Futing Zi","doi":"10.1016/j.wasman.2025.115174","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wasman.2025.115174","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Achieving efficient and selective gold recovery from electronic waste is a desirable approach for the sustainable utilization of existing rare metal resources. In this study, an ingenious positively charged trap based on azole-functionalized polymer (CMCPS-IMZ) was strategically designed and synthesized <em>via</em> solvothermal method for the precise capture of gold complex ions. By incorporating nitrogen-containing heterocyclic groups onto the CMCPS surface, the porous structure and large surface area promoted the formation of gold-binding sites, thereby enhancing adsorption efficiency. Specifically, CMCPS-IMZ exhibited exceptional Au(III) adsorption performance, with a maximum loading capacity of 323.08 mg/g, following pseudo-first-order kinetics and Freundlich isotherm models. Theoretical calculations and experimental analysis suggested that the electrostatic interactions between the RNH<sup>+</sup> group on CMCPS-IMZ and AuCl<sub>4</sub><sup>-</sup> served as the primary driving force to realize the highly efficient gold recovery, as well as involved in weak intermolecular interactions. Furthermore, CMCPS-IMZ demonstrated remarkable stability over multiple adsorption–desorption cycles using 0.5 M SC(NH<sub>2</sub>)<sub>2</sub> as the ideal eluent, underscoring its potential as a robust and sustainable platform for precious metals recovery. Notably, CMCPS-IMZ microspheres achieved a gold extraction efficiency exceeding 93.33 % even in the presence of high concentrations of interfering ions in actual e-waste leachate. This work provides valuable insights into the nature of ion affinity and selectivity, offering guidance for the rational design of advanced adsorbents with tailored binding sites for targeted ion capture.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23969,"journal":{"name":"Waste management","volume":"208 ","pages":"Article 115174"},"PeriodicalIF":7.1,"publicationDate":"2025-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145222218","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Waste managementPub Date : 2025-10-02DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2025.115169
Mahla Mahmoudi , Maziar E. Sauber , Gisele Azimi
{"title":"Recycling of NMC black mass from spent lithium-ion battery using supercritical fluid extraction","authors":"Mahla Mahmoudi , Maziar E. Sauber , Gisele Azimi","doi":"10.1016/j.wasman.2025.115169","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wasman.2025.115169","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The growing demand for lithium-ion battery recycling has intensified interest in selective and sustainable metal recovery techniques. In this study, we apply supercritical fluid extraction (SCFE) to<!--> <!-->real industrial black mass, containing mixed-metal oxides along with typical impurities such as conductive carbon, binder residues, and metallic fragments. Unlike previous SCFE research focused on pure cathode powders, this work demonstrates the feasibility and selectivity of the process under practical impurity conditions. Using<!--> <!-->supercritical CO<sub>2</sub> <!-->in combination with a<!--> <!-->tributyl phosphate–nitric acid adduct<!--> <!-->and<!--> <!-->hydrogen peroxide<!--> <!-->as a reducing agent, the process was optimized via<!--> <!-->full factorial design and response surface methodology. Under optimal conditions (65 °C, 20.7 MPa, 5 mL/g adduct-to-solid ratio in units of mL adduct per gram of black mass, 8 mL (per 8 g of feed) hydrogen peroxide), extraction efficiencies exceeded<!--> <!-->90 % for Ni, Co, and Mn, while<!--> <!-->Li recovery reached 73 %. Characterization by<!--> <!-->XRD, SEM-EDX, Raman spectroscopy, and TC/TOC analysis<!--> <!-->confirmed metal removal and the structural persistence of carbonaceous material in the residue. Parametric tests highlighted the critical roles of the adduct and reducing agent in enabling efficient complexation and solubilization of transition metals. This work demonstrates that SCFE is a promising low-impact, chemically selective approach for lithium-ion battery recycling, capable of operating under mild conditions with reduced reagent consumption. It advances the feasibility of scalable, environmentally responsible recovery of critical materials from post-consumer batteries and sets the foundation for future integration with downstream purification or hybrid recycling technologies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23969,"journal":{"name":"Waste management","volume":"208 ","pages":"Article 115169"},"PeriodicalIF":7.1,"publicationDate":"2025-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145222341","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Waste managementPub Date : 2025-10-01DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2025.115165
Xiaohui Sun , Bowen Liao , Shuhua Huang , Minghui Liu , Silin Wu , Xiangsheng Chen , Hongping He , Hao Xiong , Zijun Dong
{"title":"Evaluation of the particle characteristics of aggregates from construction spoils treatment through a real-time detection multimodal module based on 3D point cloud technology","authors":"Xiaohui Sun , Bowen Liao , Shuhua Huang , Minghui Liu , Silin Wu , Xiangsheng Chen , Hongping He , Hao Xiong , Zijun Dong","doi":"10.1016/j.wasman.2025.115165","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wasman.2025.115165","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Construction spoils are generated during construction activities and typically contain aggregates along with mud, requiring size distribution (gradation) assessment for reuse. Conventional methods using the square opening sieves are inefficient and labor-intensive. This study introduced an intelligent multi-modal module primarily for gradation detection based on 3D scanning technology to replace traditional sieve techniques. The proposed Particle Point Cloud Clustering algorithm achieved nearly 100% segmentation accuracy for multi-particle point clouds within 2 s through adaptive point-spacing optimization. A Particle Sieving Size Determination method ensured particle size classification accuracy exceeding 93.0%. A particle surface reconstruction algorithm was integrated into the Particle Characteristics Extraction (PCE) method to address the challenge of volume calculation for unscanned particle bottom surfaces, providing a novel strategy for computing particle geometry that encompasses traditional analysis. To streamline volume calculation and bypass individual particle reconstruction, we developed a volume prediction approach that combines the Oriented Bounding Box volume with the particle morphological parameter (<span><math><mi>λ</mi></math></span>) obtained through the PCE method. Furthermore, the Particle Mass Modification model determined aggregate mass by multiplying the predicted volume with the established density. This model significantly reduced gradation errors to less than 1.2% on average, which was experimentally validated. Experimental results also confirmed that the proposed method achieves real-time, second-level detection and fulfills the typical application needs in a construction site. This study is expected to benefit other industrial processes, such as particle screening in the mining industry, since information on particle characteristics is equally crucial for this sector.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23969,"journal":{"name":"Waste management","volume":"208 ","pages":"Article 115165"},"PeriodicalIF":7.1,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145213834","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Waste managementPub Date : 2025-10-01DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2025.115159
Manikandan Parathesi , Beno Wincy Winsly , Christus Jeya Singh Vincent , Anjan Augustine Maria
{"title":"Co-gasification of rice husk and waste crumb rubber in a semi-industrial gasifier: Experimental insights into enhanced performance and operational stability","authors":"Manikandan Parathesi , Beno Wincy Winsly , Christus Jeya Singh Vincent , Anjan Augustine Maria","doi":"10.1016/j.wasman.2025.115159","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wasman.2025.115159","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The challenges in converting less dense biomass through more efficient technologies, such as gasification, have made such fuels unsuitable for the power and thermal generation sectors. This work aims to enhance the gasification of less dense rice husk (RH) by adding discarded tire rubber waste material called as crumb rubber (CR) in a semi-industrial gasifier, and its performance has been investigated through the variation in feedstock consumption, char generation, syngas concentration, gas calorific value (CV), syngas yield, and hot gas efficiency, along with the practical challenges. The thermogravimetric analyses of the blended feedstock showed a positive shift in the thermal degradation rate, which confirms the potential for the enhancement of gasification efficiency. Among the various blended feedstock compositions, BR40 has demonstrated better gasification performance at 0.3 ER. The gasifier is capable of producing gas with a CV of 7.29 MJ/m<sup>3</sup> and achieving 80.14 % hot gas efficiency, even when using air as gasifying medium. The optimal producer gas (PG) compositions are 23.94 vol% CO, 19.08 vol% H<sub>2</sub>, and 4.64 vol% CH<sub>4</sub>, with H<sub>2</sub> evidencing a 57.3 % increase in comparison to RH alone. By combining CR with RH, the risk of operational challenges has been mitigated, and the gasification process has been achieved in a smooth and stable manner, without any clogging. Therefore, it is desirable to combine CR with less dense biomass in order to improve its gasification performance, including sawdust, coir pith, peanut shell, corn stover, and other herbaceous biomasses.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23969,"journal":{"name":"Waste management","volume":"208 ","pages":"Article 115159"},"PeriodicalIF":7.1,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145213808","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Waste managementPub Date : 2025-10-01DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2025.115161
Quan Bu , Yuanchong Yue , Bufei Wang , Jianmei Bai , Lihua Jiao , Mei Wang , Junming Xu
{"title":"A synergistic microwave-assisted hydrated deep eutectic solvent (DES) pretreatment for efficient fractionation of wheat straw","authors":"Quan Bu , Yuanchong Yue , Bufei Wang , Jianmei Bai , Lihua Jiao , Mei Wang , Junming Xu","doi":"10.1016/j.wasman.2025.115161","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wasman.2025.115161","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The disadvantages of deep eutectic solvents (DES) under their high viscosity and long reaction time make their application in industrial production challenging. In this study, the synthesized DES was coupled with a microwave hydrated method for efficient lignocellulose (wheat straw) grading. To mitigate the viscosity of the DES system and reduce the consumption of DES reagents, water was introduced into the synergistic pretreatment process. Under optimized reaction condition (120 °C, 20 % w/w water), we achieved a delignification efficiency of 88.9 %, hemicellulose removal of 90.2 %, and cellulose retention of 85.4 %. Results indicated that the appropriate reaction pressure during pretreatment facilitated the efficient fractionation of lignocellulosic components. The primary structural alteration in lignin was the cleavage of β-O-4 linkages, and the recovered lignin exhibited a more uniform molecular weight distribution. Furthermore, water addition was found to protect the lignin H-type units from structural degradation. The recovered DES, when recycled for two cycles, retained its efficiency, achieving 77.77 % hemicellulose removal and 74.59 % lignin removal. Therefore, the developed synergistic pretreatment method enables rapid and effective fractionation of lignocellulosic biomass under mild conditions, besides, the reuse of DES maintains a high pretreatment performance while significantly reducing the consumption of chemical reagents.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23969,"journal":{"name":"Waste management","volume":"208 ","pages":"Article 115161"},"PeriodicalIF":7.1,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145213812","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Waste managementPub Date : 2025-09-30DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2025.115155
Jiangwei Zhang , Ming Zhang , Junxiao Wei , Huan Li , Jianguo Liu
{"title":"Life cycle assessment of ultra-low emission technologies in China’s MSW incineration plants","authors":"Jiangwei Zhang , Ming Zhang , Junxiao Wei , Huan Li , Jianguo Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.wasman.2025.115155","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wasman.2025.115155","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Incineration is a dominant municipal solid waste (MSW) management method in China, but stricter emission standards necessitate advanced air pollution control (APC) technologies, such as selective catalytic reduction (SCR) and wet scrubbing (WS), into MSW incineration plants to achieve ultra-low emissions (ULE). While effective in reducing targeted air pollutants, these ULE technologies increase energy and material consumption, potentially leading to environmental trade-offs. This study employs life cycle assessment to evaluate these trade-offs by comparing conventional APC systems with ULE technologies in China’s MSW incineration plants. Three process inventories, representing a conventional (APCDs1) and two ULE (APCDs2: SCR-first; APCDs3: WS-first) systems, were developed per tonne of MSW incinerated. The footprint methods version 3.1 was applied to assess environmental impacts. The results indicate that the APCDs1 had the lowest overall environmental impact potential (8.37 × 10<sup>-3</sup>), followed by the APCDs3 (8.67 × 10<sup>-3</sup>) and APCDs2 (8.72 × 10<sup>-3</sup>). The increased global warming potential from higher energy and material consumption in ULE systems often outweighs the benefits from reduced air pollutants in other impact categories. This suggests that prioritizing short-process, co-control pollution technologies offering balanced environmental performance may be more sustainable than complex, resource-intensive ULE retrofits in China. The findings provide crucial empirical evidence for informed technology selection and policy development in the MSW incineration sector.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23969,"journal":{"name":"Waste management","volume":"208 ","pages":"Article 115155"},"PeriodicalIF":7.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145207917","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Waste managementPub Date : 2025-09-30DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2025.115172
Paul Demschar , Thomas Kremlicka , Wolfram Waldl , Roland Pomberger , Klaus Philipp Sedlazeck
{"title":"Process-adapted material characterization for ferrous metal recovery from residues arising in scrap cutting operations","authors":"Paul Demschar , Thomas Kremlicka , Wolfram Waldl , Roland Pomberger , Klaus Philipp Sedlazeck","doi":"10.1016/j.wasman.2025.115172","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wasman.2025.115172","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The transformation of Europe’s steel industry represents a flagship initiative of industrial decarbonization. In pursuit of a 55 % by mass reduction in process-related CO<sub>2</sub> emissions by 2030 relative to 1990 levels, the sector is progressively transitioning towards secondary production pathways, with a particular emphasis on the establishment of electric arc furnace technology. This technological transition entails a fundamental change in the industry’s raw material base, as iron and steel scraps increasingly substitute for primary ores. Projections indicate a doubling of scrap demand over the coming decade.</div><div>This study explores the largely untapped potential of so-called shear sands − predominantly fine-grained residues generated during the cutting and downsizing of scrap using hydraulic shears, comprising for approximately 2 % by mass of the processed material stream. These residues are subjected to comprehensive mechanical processing and characterization, followed by a subsequent separation into distinct fractions. The primary objective is the mechanical recovery of ferrous scrap to elucidate its resource potential for integration into secondary production routes.</div><div>The findings demonstrate the feasibility of directly recovering a ferrous scrap fraction corresponding to approximately 27 % by mass of the original material. Additional fractions are likewise obtained and systematically characterized. Coarse fractions (>1 mm) are examined through visual and gravimetric methods, while fine fractions (<1 mm) are subjected to chemical analysis to identify patterns of elemental enrichment and depletion.</div><div>This investigation confirms that the recovery of shear sands can make a meaningful contribution to securing raw material for the transformation of Europe’s steel industry.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23969,"journal":{"name":"Waste management","volume":"208 ","pages":"Article 115172"},"PeriodicalIF":7.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145207847","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A novel framework for measuring natural attenuation in the unsaturated zone below MSW dumpsites","authors":"Pranjal Singh, Deepak Kumar Haritwal, GV Ramana, Manoj Datta","doi":"10.1016/j.wasman.2025.115168","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wasman.2025.115168","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Natural attenuation is a promising alternative to commonly employed active remediation strategies for municipal solid waste (MSW) dumpsites, such as capping, excavation, or pump-and-treat systems. While several studies and guidelines exist for monitoring natural attenuation of organics and inorganics in groundwater, limited research addresses its measurement in the unsaturated zone for inorganics. This study proposes a novel framework to evaluate natural attenuation for inorganic contaminants in the unsaturated zone, demonstrated through a case study of the Bhalswa dumpsite in Delhi, India. The framework integrates high-resolution site characterization using cone penetrometer, injection logger, and electrical conductivity (EC) probe, with the continuous soil sampling and pore water extraction for detailed contaminant profiling. The soil and pore-water samples were then analyzed for inorganic contaminants using standard analytical methods. The unsaturated zone of 2–4 m depth at Bhalswa dumpsite revealed significant attenuation of NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>, Ni, Cr and As in regions where a 1–2 m natural clay layer was present. Attenuation reduced pore-water contaminant concentrations by 73 %–92 % and bulk soil EC by 40 %–50 %. In regions without clay, no attenuation was observed, as indicated by constant EC, total concentration in soil, and pore water concentration. Speciation modelling of the pore water was also conducted to get some insights into the attenuation mechanism for the contaminants. The proposed framework offers a structured, multi-step approach for assessing natural attenuation of inorganic contaminants in the unsaturated zone, particularly at MSW dumpsites.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23969,"journal":{"name":"Waste management","volume":"208 ","pages":"Article 115168"},"PeriodicalIF":7.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145207835","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Influence of the initial substrate concentration on the products obtained during hydrothermal carbonisation of kitchen waste","authors":"Radoslaw Slezak, Wiktor Karpinski, Stanislaw Ledakowicz","doi":"10.1016/j.wasman.2025.115157","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wasman.2025.115157","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The aim of this study was to determine the influence of the initial concentration of kitchen waste (KW) on the hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) process. Increasing the initial concentration of KW resulted in an increase in hydrochar yield (from 24.5 to 52.3 % w/w), whereas the higher heating value (HHV) remained at a similar level (25.7 MJ/kg). Lower substrate concentrations led to stronger leaching of inorganic compounds from the hydrochar. Hydrochar produced at lower substrate concentrations exhibits higher thermal stability during combustion in a thermobalance. Higher KW concentrations caused an increase in the carbon, nitrogen and acetic acid content in the liquid. At the highest substrate concentration, the concentrations of acetic acid, carbon and nitrogen in the liquid phase were equal to 13.1, 32.0 and 1.6 g/L, respectively. Analysis of volatile organic compounds in the liquid fraction revealed that increasing the substrate concentration decreased the number of phenolic compounds (from 8 to 3) and aldehydes (from 3 to 0). The liquid produced after HTC with a high initial KW content can be used for biogas production because it contains a high load of organic carbon and few substances that inhibit microorganisms. In the gas phase, a higher initial KW content increased the amount of CO<sub>2</sub> (from 95.1 to 98.8 % vol.) and a decreased the amount of CO produced (from 4.9 to 1.2 % vol.).</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23969,"journal":{"name":"Waste management","volume":"208 ","pages":"Article 115157"},"PeriodicalIF":7.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145207862","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}