Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 23, 2026

Evaluation of Integrated Anaerobic Digestion and Hydrothermal Carbonization for Bioenergy Production
Published on: June 15, 2014
Anaerobic digestion of extracts from steam exploded Agave tequilana bagasse
Bernd Weber1, Andrea Estrada-Maya1, Andrea C Sandoval-Moctezuma1
1Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Toluca, C.P., 50130, Mexico.
Abstract:
Anaerobic digestion (AD) in the beverage industry is a proven treatment technology. But adding dissolved organic matter to AD can increase the on-site output of renewable energy. In the tequila industry such waste-derived organic matter can be obtained from semisolid agave bagasse submitted to steam explosion as pretreatment. Vapor at pressure <1.0 MPa is commonly available so that steam explosion can be integrated into extant production schemes. This study investigates the efficiency of agave bagasse hydrolyzation via steam explosion (applying severity factors between 2.4 and 3.7 with 0.98 MPa maximum pressure) as well as the efficiency of the bio-conversion in anaerobic batch assays. The best steam explosion yield was 14.3 ± 0.1 gCOD 100 g-1 (0.98 MPa vapor pressure during 22 min followed by fast pressure release). The average biochemical methane potential (BMP) was 290 mLN gCOD-1 with 74% of the biogas released within seven days.
Related Concept Videos
Carbohydrate Digestion
What is Monogastric Digestion?
Lipid Digestion
Protein Digestion
Regulation of the Digestive System
The effectors in this regulation system are glands and smooth muscles. Activation of...
Other Disorders of Digestive System

