Production of artificial humic acid from biomass residues by a non-catalytic hydrothermal process

Humic substance is vital for soil fertility and has wide applications such as soil remediation agents, organic fertilizer and adsorbents. The results of pH effect on artificial humic acids (AHAs) production demonstrated that acid hydrothermal conditions are favorable for biomass waste dissolution and formation of AHA precursors such as saccharides, furans, organic acids and phenols; whereas alkaline hydrothermal conditions are suitable for AHAs production from these precursors. Enhanced humification from biomass waste with a combined acid - alkaline hydrothermal process was proposed. The solid product known as hydrochar was reduced to only 5 wt% after this process indicating the significant improvement of dissolution and transformation. The AHAs concentration of 28.28 ± 0.98 wt% obtained from corn stalk was the highest yield so far, 10 times higher than ever reported. The carbon flow analysis indicated that the selectivity of AHA-C was 43.2% of the initial carbon in corn stalk. Our study provides a new way of mass production of AHAs in short period, which has great potential for industry application.