HYDROCHARS FROM COMPOST DERIVED FROM MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE: PRODUCTION PROCESS OPTIMIZATION AND CATALYTIC APPLICATIONS

Abstract Catalytic hydrochars were produced by hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) of compost derived from Municipal Solid Waste (MSW). The HTC process was studied through a Design of Experiments to assess the influence of the variables: (i) time (1 – 5 h), (ii) load of compost (1 – 4 g in 30 mL) and, (iii) temperature (150 – 230 oC). Total organic carbon (TOC), conductivity and volume variation of the liquid fraction, as well as the mass and carbon content of the solid fraction (hydrochars), were the evaluated responses. Reliable models (R2 > 0.95 and p-values