During her PhD studies, María José Rivas Arrieta investigated solids separation during hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL), a promising technology for producing biofuels as an alternative to fossil fuels. The solid by-product, hydrochar, contains valuable nutrients, such as phosphorous, but also poses challenges in large-scale processing.

Her research focused on examining hydrochar separation and recovery in continuous HTL systems. By refining solids removal strategies and characterizing hydrochar composition, her work contributes to minimizing operational challenges, improving biocrude quality, and exploring potential applications of hydrochar in nutrient recycling, carbon storage, and other value-added uses.

These findings support the advancement of HTL as a viable and efficient pathway for sustainable waste-to-energy conversion.

The PhD study was completed at Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering (BCE), Faculty of Technical Sciences, Aarhus University.

This summary was prepared by the PhD student.

Time: Wednesday, 11 June 2025 at 13:00
Place: Building 1170, room 347, Aarhus University, Ole worms Allé 3, 8000 Aarhus C
Title of PhD thesis: Separation and recovery of inorganics during hydrothermal liquefaction of wastes
Contact information: Maria Jose Rivas Arrieta, e-mail: mjrivas@bce.au.dk, tel.: +45 29364540
Members of the assessment committee:
Full Professor Silvia Román Suero, Department of Applied Physics, University of Extremadura, Spain
Associate Professor Luca Fiori, Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, University of Trento, Italy
Associate Professor Leendert Vergeynst (chair), Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Aarhus University, Denmark
Main supervisor: Associate Professor Patrick Biller, Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Aarhus University, Denmark
Language: The PhD dissertation will be defended in English

The defense is public.
The PhD thesis is available for reading at the Graduate School of Technical Sciences/GSTS, Ny Munkegade 120, building 1521, 8000 Aarhus C.