[{"command":"openDialog","selector":"#drupal-modal","settings":null,"data":"\u003Cdiv id=\u0022republish_modal_form\u0022\u003E\u003Cform class=\u0022modal-form-example-modal-form ecl-form\u0022 data-drupal-selector=\u0022modal-form-example-modal-form\u0022 action=\u0022\/en\/article\/modal\/7261\u0022 method=\u0022post\u0022 id=\u0022modal-form-example-modal-form\u0022 accept-charset=\u0022UTF-8\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHorizon articles can be republished for free under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence.\u003C\/p\u003E\n \u003Cp\u003EYou must give appropriate credit. We ask you to do this by:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n 1) Using the original journalist\u0027s byline\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n 2) Linking back to our original story\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n 3) Using the following text in the footer: This article was originally published in \u003Ca href=\u0027#\u0027\u003EHorizon, the EU Research and Innovation magazine\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n \u003Cp\u003ESee our full republication guidelines \u003Ca href=\u0027\/horizon-magazine\/republish-our-stories\u0027\u003Ehere\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n \u003Cp\u003EHTML for this article, including the attribution and page view counter, is below:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022js-form-item form-item js-form-type-textarea form-item-body-content js-form-item-body-content ecl-form-group ecl-form-group--text-area form-no-label ecl-u-mv-m\u0022\u003E\n \n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n \u003Ctextarea data-drupal-selector=\u0022edit-body-content\u0022 aria-describedby=\u0022edit-body-content--description\u0022 id=\u0022edit-body-content\u0022 name=\u0022body_content\u0022 rows=\u00225\u0022 cols=\u002260\u0022 class=\u0022form-textarea ecl-text-area\u0022\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EMaking coal from food waste, garden cuttings \u2013 and even human sewage\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEurope has a biowaste problem. Rather than using the carbon-rich material for fuel, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/eur-lex.europa.eu\/legal-content\/EN\/TXT\/?uri=celex%3A52010DC0235\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 rel=\u0022noopener noreferrer\u0022\u003Emillions of tonnes of organic waste material are dumped in landfill\u003C\/a\u003E, where it decomposes and gives off greenhouse gases.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAt the same time, the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu\/nui\/show.do?dataset=nrg_ti_sff\u0026amp;lang=en\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 rel=\u0022noopener noreferrer\u0022\u003EEU imports millions of tonnes of coal for industrial use and energy generation\u003C\/a\u003E. That brings in a raw material that\u2019s subject to vulnerable supply chains, adds to carbon emissions and on which the EU aims to decrease its dependency.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEfforts to match those imbalances could find a solution in biocoal \u2013 a carbon-neutral commodity made from organic waste that can be used as a source of energy, industrial raw materials or even as a way to store carbon, rather than emit it into the atmosphere.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u2018(Biocoal) technology can play a strong role (in the market), firstly because we recover high value material, secondly because it is quick, and thirdly \u2026 because it can avoid CO2 emissions,\u2019 said Marisa Hernandez Latorre, the founder and chief executive of sustainable technology company Ingelia, based in Valencia, Spain.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne way to make the coal substitute is a process known as hydrothermal carbonisation (HTC), which uses superheated water under pressure to produce biocoal in a few hours. It normally takes millions of years for fossil coal to form geologically.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u2018It\u2019s really a very simple and stable process, because it acts like an acceleration of the natural formation of coal,\u2019 Hernandez Latorre said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIngelia has developed a proprietary HTC process for three biocoal plants \u2013 in Spain, the UK and Belgium, with a total capacity of 8,000 tonnes of biocoal per year. Several more are awaiting regulatory approval and should double capacity in the next couple of years.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u2018HTC biocoal \u2026 not only avoids the use of hard coal in industrial processes, but also the emission of methane from landfill,\u2019 Hernandez Latorre said, adding that the technology can recover up to 95% of the carbon from organic waste.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMethane is an even more \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.sciencedaily.com\/releases\/2014\/03\/140327111724.htm\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 rel=\u0022noopener noreferrer\u0022\u003Epotent greenhouse gas\u003C\/a\u003E than carbon dioxide and a notable source is rubbish dumps. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu\/nui\/show.do?query=BOOKMARK_DS-997881_QID_32963C2_UID_-3F171EB0\u0026amp;layout=TIME,C,X,0;GEO,L,Y,0;WST_OPER,L,Z,0;MATERIAL,L,Z,1;UNIT,L,Z,2;INDICATORS,C,Z,3;\u0026amp;zSelection=DS-997881MATERIAL,MF1;DS-997881INDICATORS,OBS_FLAG;DS-997881WST_OPER,DSP_L;DS-997881UNIT,THS_T;\u0026amp;rankName1=UNIT_1_2_-1_2\u0026amp;rankName2=MATERIAL_1_2_-1_2\u0026amp;rankName3=INDICATORS_1_2_-1_2\u0026amp;rankName4=WST-OPER_1_2_-1_2\u0026amp;rankName5=TIME_1_0_0_0\u0026amp;rankName6=GEO_1_2_0_1\u0026amp;ppcRK=FIRST\u0026amp;ppcSO=ASC\u0026amp;sortC=ASC_-1_FIRST\u0026amp;rStp=\u0026amp;cStp=\u0026amp;rDCh=\u0026amp;cDCh=\u0026amp;rDM=true\u0026amp;cDM=true\u0026amp;footnes=false\u0026amp;empty=false\u0026amp;wai=false\u0026amp;time_mode=ROLLING\u0026amp;time_most_recent=true\u0026amp;lang=EN\u0026amp;cfo=%23%23%23%2C%23%23%23.%23%23%23\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 rel=\u0022noopener noreferrer\u0022\u003EEurope abandons millions of tonnes of biowaste in landfill every year\u003C\/a\u003E, and even where sites have methane-capture systems, a substantial portion of the gas can escape.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPressure-cooker\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESeveral different HTC methods have been developed, but the process generally works along the lines of a pressure-cooker, though the ingredients range from residue from food or drinks processing, agricultural waste, forestry industry discards such as woodchips and sawdust, to maize cobs and sewage.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe biowaste is put into a device known as a reactor, in temperatures from 180\u00b0C-250\u00b0C under pressure of the order of 2 megapascals (MPa) or 20 atmospheres. This means the water in the system is superheated, rather than converted into steam.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe reactor converts the solids in the organic material into hard biocoal \u2013 also known as hydrochar \u2013 while the liquids can be collected separately and used as bio-fertiliser and any gases given off are captured and used to power the system.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe biocoal has similar characteristics regardless of the biowaste used, though different raw materials do influence the quality by determining the ash content. Conditions in the reactor destroy pathogens and the resulting products are sterile. The coal slurry can also be processed to remove stones or shards of glass or metal, before being compressed into briquettes or pellets.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIngelia\u2019s basic HTC process can use food waste, for example, to produce biocoal similar to fossil browncoal, comprising about 60% carbon. This hydrochar can then go through extra steps to make higher-value \u2018designer\u2019 biocoal, removing ash and volatiles to ensure carbon content up to 90% \u2013 able to compete with top-grade hard coal.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u2018We can use (further processing) to tailor the final product, to recover from the bio-material exactly what they need for the industrial processes, in a circular economy (system),\u2019 Hernandez Latorre said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\u0022tw-text-center tw-text-blue tw-font-bold tw-text-2xl lg:tw-w-1\/2 tw-border-2 tw-border-blue tw-p-12 tw-my-8 lg:tw-m-12 lg:tw--ml-16 tw-float-left\u0022\u003E\n \u003Cspan class=\u0022tw-text-5xl tw-rotate-180\u0022\u003E\u201c\u003C\/span\u003E\n \u003Cp class=\u0022tw-font-serif tw-italic\u0022\u003E\u2018HTC biocoal\u2026 not only avoids the use of hard coal in industrial processes, but also the emission of methane from landfill.\u2019\u003C\/p\u003E\n \u003Cfooter\u003E\n \u003Ccite class=\u0022tw-not-italic tw-font-normal tw-text-sm tw-text-black\u0022\u003EMarisa Hernandez Latorre, CEO, Ingelia\u003C\/cite\u003E\n \u003C\/footer\u003E\n\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\n\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGreenhouse gases\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHernandez Latorre says that internal Ingelia research shows that between 6.5 and 8.3 tonnes of CO2 equivalent are avoided per tonne of HTC biocoal produced, compared to a landfill operation with or without a methane-recovery system.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShe says biocoal can have a market value of \u20ac170 per tonne for the most basic hydrochar, to more than \u20ac400 per tonne for top-grade biocoal with the highest carbon content, depending on its intended use.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIngelia has combined its findings from several research projects into its HTC process and is aiming its technology at industries that rely on coal, sewage processing, which has to deal with organic waste, and energy producers moving away from coal-fired power generation towards renewables.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWith the fall in coal prices and demand in the economic slowdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, it may take time for biocoal to displace fossil fuels in industry worldwide. But it offers one solution for those obliged to deal with organic waste and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ec.europa.eu\/commission\/presscorner\/detail\/en\/ip_20_335\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 rel=\u0022noopener noreferrer\u0022\u003Eto meet the EU\u2019s plan to become carbon-neutral by 2050\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHernandez Latorre, who on 12 June was named the EU\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.michampions.net\/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 rel=\u0022noopener noreferrer\u0022\u003EMission Innovation Champion\u003C\/a\u003E for her work in clean energy research, sees it playing an increasingly important role in the next 10-15 years.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u2018The market is really prepared to accept or implement new technologies, the only thing is they need to be sufficiently developed at scale,\u2019 she added.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIndustries need sufficient market availability of biocoal to plan ahead for substitution of fossil fuels. And investors want to be sure they will have enough biowaste to process \u2013 and commitment from users to take their products \u2013 before they invest in sophisticated HTC units that could cost hundreds of thousands or even millions of euros.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cfigure role=\u0022group\u0022 class=\u0022@alignleft@\u0022\u003E\n\u003Cimg alt=\u0022Biocoal briquettes or pellets can be made from organic waste like food scraps. Image credit - Ingelia\u0022 height=\u0022665\u0022 src=\u0022\/research-and-innovation\/sites\/default\/files\/hm\/IMCEUpload\/ingelia-sm.jpg\u0022 title=\u0022Biocoal briquettes or pellets can be made from organic waste like food scraps. Image credit - Ingelia\u0022 width=\u00221000\u0022\u003E\n\u003Cfigcaption class=\u0022tw-italic tw-mb-4\u0022\u003EBiocoal briquettes or pellets can be made from organic waste like food scraps. Image credit - Ingelia\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\n\u003C\/figure\u003E\n\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELow-tech\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThose set-up costs are prohibitive in many developing countries, even though biowaste poses a problem worldwide.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut a low-cost, low-tech version that uses human faeces to make biocoal and fertiliser could bring a double benefit to places where people lack sanitary facilities, said South Korean researcher Dr Jae Wook Chung.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe sees potential to both generate income for communities and address their environmental and health problems caused by untreated excrement, citing WHO estimates that \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.who.int\/news-room\/fact-sheets\/detail\/sanitation\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 rel=\u0022noopener noreferrer\u0022\u003E673 million people have to defecate in the open\u003C\/a\u003E \u2013 in the street, behind bushes or into open water.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.eawag.ch\/fileadmin\/Domain1\/Abteilungen\/sandec\/publikationen\/SWM\/Carbonization_of_Urban_Bio-waste\/carbonization.pdf\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 rel=\u0022noopener noreferrer\u0022\u003EResearch has shown HTC reactors can be made for less than \u20ac20,000\u003C\/a\u003E, but Dr Chung aims to use a project called \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cordis.europa.eu\/project\/id\/893588\/en\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 rel=\u0022noopener noreferrer\u0022\u003EFEET\u003C\/a\u003E to develop an even simpler, cheaper model that can be used in poor, high-density communities such as the Kibera slum in Kenya\u2019s capital Nairobi.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe envisages a system about the size of an oil barrel, made with stainless-steel tubing available as a building supply in many developing countries. And he wants to monitor temperature and pressure from outside the reactor, avoiding expensive probes.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDr Chung will also focus on ways to ensure a sustainable supply of waste for processing \u2013 perhaps through organised emptying of pit latrines or portable lavatories \u2013 and to demonstrate the economic benefits of the biocoal and liquid fertiliser.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe sees making a sanitation system profitable for the community as key to making it sustainable, and to providing toilets in regions currently lacking them.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u2018(The) economic benefit would also help those who have a cultural barrier to using conventional toilets move away from open defecation,\u0027 he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThe research in this article was funded by the EU. 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