CAREER: Hydrothermal Carbonization of Mixed Feedstocks: Implications for Sustainable Waste Management

1055327 PI BergePI将探索水热碳化(HTC)作为一种可持续地促进碳封存和从废流中生产增值产品的处理工艺。这项工作的具体目标是：(1)了解化合物(如纤维素和木质素)和催化剂添加之间的相互作用如何影响HTC过程，(2)阐明HTC过程中新出现的污染物归宿的相关机制，以及(3)整合研究和教育，以提高学生和实践者对HTC和废物利用的可持续性的认识。将进行一系列实验室实验，以了解反应条件和化合物混合物如何影响HTC过程。在考虑将HTC用作废物处理技术时，HTC反应速率、活化能、最终产品特性和过程能量学(即反应热)以及该过程有效处理新出现的污染物的能力是重要的。这项研究将确定化合物混合物如何影响代表常见废气的原料的HTC反应特性。将建立原料、工艺条件、碳固存、工艺水质和加氢焦质之间的关联。这项研究具有变革性，因为它是评估HTC(反应动力学、过程能等)的第一个研究。研究与教育相结合是这项工作的关键组成部分。将做出重大努力，向学生(K-12、本科生和研究生)和从业者介绍HTC和废物可持续性问题。具体活动包括：(1)开发基于问题的本科生环境工程实验室课程；(2)开发和实施可应用于中学课堂的计划，以提高学生和教师对环境工程问题和职业的认识；(3)举办研讨会，教育从业者有关HTC的知识；(3)继续指导未被充分代表的学生，并让他们参与研究和教育活动。就更广泛的影响而言，这项工作的结果将有助于目前关于气候变化、清洁和可再生能源以及我们与废物相关的过程的环境影响的政策讨论。在进行这项研究的同时，国际和平协会将促进教学、培训和学习，特别是关于代表性不足的群体。PI将继续通过与位于南卡罗来纳州哥伦比亚市的HBCU学院的合作来指导年轻学生。将通过K-12教育/外联活动接触到一大批潜在的未来工程师和科学家。

1055327 PI BergeThe PI will explore hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) as a treatment process that sustainably promotes carbon sequestration and value-added product production from waste streams. The specific objectives of this work are to: (1) understand how the interaction between compounds (e.g., cellulose and lignin) and catalyst addition influences the HTC process, (2) elucidate the mechanisms associated with emerging contaminant fate in the HTC processes, and (3) integrate research and education to increase student and practitioner awareness of HTC and the sustainability of waste utilization. A series of laboratory experiments will be conducted to understand how reaction conditions and mixtures of compounds influence HTC processes. HTC reaction rates, activation energies, end-product characteristics, and process energetics (i.e., heat of reaction), as well as the capacity of the process to effectively treat emerging contaminants, are important when considering its use as a waste treatment technique. This research will identify how mixtures of compounds influence HTC reaction characteristics for feedstocks representing common waste streams. Correlations between feedstock, process conditions, carbon sequestration, process water quality, and hydrochar quality will be established. This research is transformative in that it is the first study evaluating HTC (reaction kinetics, process energetic, etc.) of waste materials and will result in an extensive data set for evaluating a technology that has global implications.Integration of research and education is a critical component of this work. Significant efforts will be made to introduce HTC and waste sustainability issues to students (K-12, undergraduate, and graduate students) and practitioners. Specific activities include: (1) development of an undergraduate level problem-based laboratory course in environmental engineering, (2) development and implementation of a program that can be applied to middle school classrooms to increase student and teacher awareness to environmental engineering issues and careers, (3) conduct workshops to educate practitioners about HTC, and (3) continue mentoring of underrepresented students and involving them in research and educational activities. In terms of the broader impacts, results from this work will aid in current policy discussions with respect to climate change, clean and renewable energy, and environmental impact of our waste-related processes. The PI will promote teaching, training, and learning while conducting this research, particularly with respect to underrepresented groups. The PI will continue to mentor young students through collaborations with an HBCU college located in Columbia, SC. A large population of potential future engineers and scientists will be reached via the K-12 education/outreach activities.