Solar hydrothermal processing of agave bagasse: Insights on the effect of operational parameters

Hydrothermal processing of agave was performed using a batch solar reactor designed to operate with a coupling method where a concentrated solar system provides heat. This work analyzes the performance of a reactor and the main characteristics of the products at different operational parameters: temperature, biomass concentration and holding time under subcritical conditions. Experimental findings demonstrate that the solar heated reactor prototype allows reaching maximum reaction temperatures of 300 °C with stable pressures. Low heating rates reduced the propensity of the system to leak, which prevented variations in pressure throughout experiments. The most favorable conditions to improve the yields (up to 28%) and properties of the oil produced were 300 °C and no holding time at peak temperature (τ = 0 min), and an average constant direct normal irradiation of 745 ± 47 W/m2.