Research Projects

The disposal of high wet bio-solid waste, such as sewage sludge, Organic Fraction of Municipal Solid Waste (OFMSW), and Anaerobic digestate, is a challenging task due to their high moisture content, additional energy and cost in transport, processing, and disposal. However, these materials contain significant amounts of C, N, P, K, and micronutrients, which have positive dimensions. Hydrothermal Carbonization (HTC) is an emerging thermochemical process that produces hydrochar (coal-like material) by treating the wet biomass at relatively mild reaction temperatures (180-250˚C) at self-generated pressure in a closed vessel. The high water content of these materials makes direct pyrolysis economically unviable. India generates 152,076 TPD of municipal solid waste, with 40-60% biodegradable and amenable for composting. However, only 55,759 TPD is processed and remains open dump, causing environmental hazard and obnoxious odor. Hydrochar materials have wide practical applications in soil application, pollutants removal, fuel, and energy storage devices. This study aims to produce high heating value hydrochar (artificial coal) using RSM statistical tool under co-hydrothermal carbonization processes. The hydrochar will be analyzed for its proximate, ultimate, and functional characters, and pre-post activated for waste water treatment. The hydrochar will also undergo microbial ageing to produce compost-like material, which can be used for sodic soil reclamation. A pot culture experiment and field experiments with paddy crop will be conducted to study the sodic soil reclamation process. The project aims to improve the adsorption, absorption, precipitation, and oxidation of pollutants in wastewater through hydrochar production and characterization.