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Advantages of subcritical water hydrolysis technology for organic matter after municipal solid waste sorting

Nov 09,2021

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Almost all organic matter is converted into solid fuel, and the remaining liquid phase can be reused. The system produces virtually no residue for external disposal.

1. Volume Reduction ≥955%

Almost all organic matter is converted into solid fuel, and the remaining liquid phase can be reused. The system produces virtually no residue for external disposal.

2. Complete Detoxification

Subcritical conditions can destroy antibiotics, bacteria, and parasite eggs; the dechlorination rate of chlorine-containing plastics such as PVC is >75%. The entire process is carried out in a closed system, preventing the leakage of malodorous gases (such as hydrogen sulfide) and avoiding the NIMBY effect; no dioxins are produced (no high-temperature incineration is required), and heavy metals in the hydrolysis residue are solidified, eliminating pollution risks in subsequent disposal; wastewater can be recycled for the hydrolysis process, achieving "zero wastewater discharge."

3. High Resource Utilization Rate

The calorific value of the original waste is "compressed" into fuel with approximately 70% of the original mass. This fuel can be directly used in coal-fired boilers, cement kilns, or gasifiers to replace coal, or further processed into green methanol. The core product, the hydrolysate, can be used to produce bioethanol and biodiesel through fermentation, or concentrated into liquid organic fertilizer; the hydrolysis residue can be processed into biochar or biomass fuel, achieving a product utilization rate of over 95%.

4. Simple Exhaust Gas and Wastewater Treatment

The reaction is completed in a closed liquid-phase reactor, producing no incineration flue gas or fly ash; the amount of wastewater discharged is small and can meet standards after neutralization and biochemical treatment. The exhaust gas consists only of a small amount of non-condensable gases (CO₂, CH₄), which can be collected and sent to a boiler for combustion.

5. High Reaction Efficiency and Short Processing Cycle

The strong penetration and hydrolysis capabilities of subcritical water allow for an organic waste treatment cycle of only about 20 minutes, which is much faster than aerobic treatment (6-20 days) and shorter than anaerobic pyrolysis (1.5-83 hours), making it suitable for large-scale continuous processing. 6. Energy Self-Sufficiency and Significant Carbon Emission Reduction

The process utilizes exothermic reactions, fuel combustion, and gasification.  Fuel coal and combustible gases provide heat to the steam boiler, and the waste heat from combustion is used to dry the organic coal undergoing decomposition. Biochar combustion emissions are 30-40% lower than those of coal; replacing 1 ton of standard coal can reduce CO₂ emissions by approximately 2 tons. It can directly process high-moisture organic waste (such as food waste with a moisture content of 60%-80%), reducing energy consumption in the drying process; and the reaction process allows for waste heat recovery, enabling partial energy self-sufficiency for the system.

7. Safe Operation and Environmentally Friendly

The system operates in a fully enclosed, slightly negative pressure environment, preventing odor leakage; the reaction takes place at 200-350℃ and 0.5-3MPa pressure, requiring less demanding equipment materials, resulting in simple operation and maintenance, and high social acceptance.

It can efficiently process organic waste of different compositions (such as food waste, municipal solid waste, fruit and vegetable waste, straw, and sludge), and is especially suitable for high-moisture, high-fat food waste, addressing the challenges of drying and rapid decomposition of such waste.


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