The alcoholic beverage industry produces approximately 39 million tons of insoluble solid waste per year. Wine and brandy industries specifically contribute to this extensive amount excess of solid waste due to the leftover fruit mash from the processes. A sustainable solution for this fermented fruit pomace is hydrothermal carbonization in which a series of reactions transforms biomass into hydrochar. Our team adjusted the temperature and time parameters of the process to assess the impact on percent mass yield and crystallinity of the hydrochar. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy were utilized to analyze the crystallinity of our hydrochar samples. After experimenting with three temperatures, 180°C, 200°C, and 240°C, we found that as temperature increases, both percent yield and crystallinity index decrease. Also, while holding temperature constant and adjusting the time that the reactors spend in the oven from 8 hours to 10 hours, we concluded that more time in the oven also decreases percent yield and crystallinity index. These conclusions indicate that higher temperatures and longer times result in greater degradation of cellulose and crystalline structures.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Harnisch-Weidauer, Leah
• Kellum, Evelyn
• Dubord, Samantha
• Brindisi, Emily

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• 121399
• E-project-042324-144010

Advisor

• Kmiotek, Stephen J.

Year

• 2024

Date created

• 2024-04-23

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Chemical Engineering

Source

• E-project-042324-144010

Rights statement

• In Copyright