Green coal and lubricant via hydrogen-free hydrothermal liquefaction of biomass
Abstract Biocrude derived from biomass via hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) is a sustainable substitute for petroleum to obtain energy and biochemicals. Upgrading biocrude inevitably faces the trade-off between consuming large amounts of hydrogen via hydrotreating and high yield of solid residue with...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-56037-z |
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| author | Maojiong Cao Reaihan E Changbin Yuan Lasse Aistrup Rosendahl Yuanhui Zhang Charles Chunbao Xu Yulong Wu Deliang Kong Yingxian Wang Jiaming Li Zhidan Liu |
| author_facet | Maojiong Cao Reaihan E Changbin Yuan Lasse Aistrup Rosendahl Yuanhui Zhang Charles Chunbao Xu Yulong Wu Deliang Kong Yingxian Wang Jiaming Li Zhidan Liu |
| author_sort | Maojiong Cao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Biocrude derived from biomass via hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) is a sustainable substitute for petroleum to obtain energy and biochemicals. Upgrading biocrude inevitably faces the trade-off between consuming large amounts of hydrogen via hydrotreating and high yield of solid residue without additional hydrogen. In this work, we report a non-hydrogenated refinery paradigm for nearly complete valorization (~90%), via co-generating green coal and bio-lubricant. The obtained green coal has higher heating values comparable to commercial coals, with a lower fuel ratio and reduced ash content. Viscosity of upgraded vacuum distillate is comparable to that of a lubricant oil. A life cycle assessment confirms 28% reduction in greenhouse gas emission and 35% reduction in energy input of this paradigm compared with conventional hydrotreating biorefinery. This approach presents an environmentally friendly, safe and convenient paradigm for biocrude refining from huge biowaste towards carbon-neutral society. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b1ab7ddc7e6b4906a9590ed1cc0b1c2d |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-b1ab7ddc7e6b4906a9590ed1cc0b1c2d2025-01-19T12:29:51ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-01-0116111310.1038/s41467-025-56037-zGreen coal and lubricant via hydrogen-free hydrothermal liquefaction of biomassMaojiong Cao0Reaihan E1Changbin Yuan2Lasse Aistrup Rosendahl3Yuanhui Zhang4Charles Chunbao Xu5Yulong Wu6Deliang Kong7Yingxian Wang8Jiaming Li9Zhidan Liu10Laboratory of Environment-Enhancing Energy (E2E), College of Water Resources and Civil Engineering, China Agricultural UniversityLaboratory of Environment-Enhancing Energy (E2E), College of Water Resources and Civil Engineering, China Agricultural UniversityLaboratory of Environment-Enhancing Energy (E2E), College of Water Resources and Civil Engineering, China Agricultural UniversityDepartment of Energy Technology, Aalborg UniversityDepartment of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignSchool of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong KongInstitute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology, Tsinghua UniversityLaboratory of Environment-Enhancing Energy (E2E), College of Water Resources and Civil Engineering, China Agricultural UniversityCollege of Agricultural Equipment Engineering, Henan University of Science and TechnologyCollege of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and EngineeringLaboratory of Environment-Enhancing Energy (E2E), College of Water Resources and Civil Engineering, China Agricultural UniversityAbstract Biocrude derived from biomass via hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) is a sustainable substitute for petroleum to obtain energy and biochemicals. Upgrading biocrude inevitably faces the trade-off between consuming large amounts of hydrogen via hydrotreating and high yield of solid residue without additional hydrogen. In this work, we report a non-hydrogenated refinery paradigm for nearly complete valorization (~90%), via co-generating green coal and bio-lubricant. The obtained green coal has higher heating values comparable to commercial coals, with a lower fuel ratio and reduced ash content. Viscosity of upgraded vacuum distillate is comparable to that of a lubricant oil. A life cycle assessment confirms 28% reduction in greenhouse gas emission and 35% reduction in energy input of this paradigm compared with conventional hydrotreating biorefinery. This approach presents an environmentally friendly, safe and convenient paradigm for biocrude refining from huge biowaste towards carbon-neutral society.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-56037-z |
| spellingShingle | Maojiong Cao Reaihan E Changbin Yuan Lasse Aistrup Rosendahl Yuanhui Zhang Charles Chunbao Xu Yulong Wu Deliang Kong Yingxian Wang Jiaming Li Zhidan Liu Green coal and lubricant via hydrogen-free hydrothermal liquefaction of biomass Nature Communications |
| title | Green coal and lubricant via hydrogen-free hydrothermal liquefaction of biomass |
| title_full | Green coal and lubricant via hydrogen-free hydrothermal liquefaction of biomass |
| title_fullStr | Green coal and lubricant via hydrogen-free hydrothermal liquefaction of biomass |
| title_full_unstemmed | Green coal and lubricant via hydrogen-free hydrothermal liquefaction of biomass |
| title_short | Green coal and lubricant via hydrogen-free hydrothermal liquefaction of biomass |
| title_sort | green coal and lubricant via hydrogen free hydrothermal liquefaction of biomass |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-56037-z |
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