Room: Poster Area
Date: Friday, 22 May 2026
Time: 13:45 - 14:45 CEST
Session code 4DV.5
Biomass pre-treatment and production of intermediates (part 2)
Energy Valorization of Water Hyacinth: Effect of Torrefaction on Pellet Quality for a Circular Bioeconomy
Short Introductive summary
Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) is an invasive aquatic species that severely affects freshwater ecosystems in Ecuador. This study explores its energetic valorization through the production of 6 mm natural and torrefied pellets obtained without binders. Torrefaction at 230–290 °C improved the physicochemical and energetic properties of the biomass, increasing the higher heating value to 17.23 MJ/kg and reducing moisture by 68.7%. These results demonstrate the potential of water hyacinth as a sustainable feedstock for solid biofuels, linking environmental remediation with renewable energy generation and circular bioeconomy principles.
Presenter
Luis VELAZQUEZ-ARAQUE
University of Guayaquil, Chemical Engineering Dpt., ECUADOR
Presenter's biography
Luis Velazquez-Araque, PhD, is an Associate Professor at the University of Guayaquil. His research integrates bioenergy, thermochemical conversion and biomass pelletization with fluid mechanics modeling to analyze microplastic transport in estuarine systems, advancing circular bioeconomy strategies.
Biographies and Short introductive summaries are supplied directly by presenters and are published here unedited
Co-authors:
C. Ramírez Zurita, University of Guayaquil, ECUADOR
A. Robayo Cagua, University of Guayaquil, ECUADOR
Session reference: 4DV.5.13