Christian Aragon-Briceño

Bio: Christian Aragon-Briceño is an academic researcher from University of Twente. The author has contributed to research in topics: Digestate & Hydrothermal carbonization. The author has an hindex of 4, co-authored 8 publications receiving 145 citations. Previous affiliations of Christian Aragon-Briceño include University of Leeds.

Biogas Developments and Perspectives in Europe

Abstract: This paper presents a review of the turn of events and points of view of biogas in and its utilization for power, heat and in transport in the European Union (EU) and its Member States. Biogas creation has expanded in the EU, empowered by the sustainable power strategies, notwithstanding monetary, ecological and atmosphere benefits, to arrive at 18 billion m3 methane (654 PJ) in 2015, speaking to half of the worldwide biogas creation. The EU is the world chief in biogas power creation, with more than 10 GW introduced and various 17,400 biogas plants, in contrast with the worldwide biogas limit of 15 GW in 2015. In the EU, biogas conveyed 127 TJ of warmth and 61 TWh of power in 2015; about half of absolute biogas utilization in Europe was bound to warm age. Europe is the world's driving maker of biomethane for the utilization as a vehicle fuel or for infusion into the petroleum gas network, with 459 plants in 2015 creating 1.2 billion m3 and 340 plants taking care of into the gas network, with a limit of 1.5 million m3. Around 697 biomethane filling stations guaranteed the utilization 160 million m3 of biomethane as a transport fuel in 2015.

Coupling anaerobic digestion with gasification, pyrolysis or hydrothermal carbonization: A review

Abstract: This review aims at summarizing the literature for the coupling of the biological process of anaerobic digestion (AD) with one of three thermal processes: gasification (Gs), pyrolysis (Py), and hydrothermal carbonization (HTC). These thermal processes are investigated as pre and/or post treatments for AD, aiming at reducing its main drawbacks. The different cases are considered separately, based on the thermal treatment that is coupled with the AD process: AD-Gs, AD-Py, and AD-HTC. For each group, up to three sub-cases are discussed: the thermal treatment of the digestate, the use of char from the thermal treatment as stabilizer and enhancer in the AD reactor, and the AD of the aqueous products of the thermal treatment (this last case is not available with Gs). When possible, the result of the different researches for each configurations are grouped for comparison. Finally, an overview of the most promising future research investigations is given.

Recent advances and challenges of inter-disciplinary biomass valorization by integrating hydrothermal and biological techniques

Abstract: Biomass valorization for the production of various value-added biochemicals and biofuels plays a significant role in modern biorefineries/bioenergy towards a climate neutrality future. Among the developed valorization techniques for biorefining, hydrothermal and biological treatments have been demonstrated to valorize raw biomass materials or upgrade biorefinery intermediate products to afford respectably desired product yields. From the perspective of both green chemistry and circular bioeconomy, whether the inter-disciplinary approach could achieve complete biomass valorization with balanced energy and extra profits remains questionable. This review is presented to provide an overview of the opportunities combining both hydrothermal and biological techniques for biomass valorization. Combinations including (1) hydrothermal pretreatment followed by biological valorization (such as enzymatic hydrolysis, fermentation, anaerobic digestion, or composting) and (2) hydrothermal valorization of substrates generated from biological techniques (such as enzymatic hydrolysis pretreated food waste, or anaerobic digestion produced digestate) for the production of biochar, biocrude or syngas are comprehensively reviewed. The recent advances regarding treatment conditions, synergies between hydrothermal and biological techniques, and optimal performances are summarized and compared. Assessment of the energy balance and economic feasibility of different integrated options reported in previous studies is also compared. Finally, challenges and perspectives for advancing integrated hydrothermal and biological techniques toward complete biomass valorization are concluded.