## 3 Results  
### Characterization of the Biomass  
#### 3.1.1 Proximate Analysis  
The proximal essay shows the initial characteristics of the biomass (Table 4). Understanding the composition of biomass, including moisture content, ashes, volatile matter, and fixed carbon, is crucial for its valorization, particularly in hydrothermal processes [28]. These components play a significant role in the formation of thermal products and the overall efficiency of the process. The presence of moisture in biomass affects the hydrothermal liquefaction process. Moisture content influences the heat capacity, thermal conductivity, and swelling behavior of biomass, which in turn affects the efficiency of the process and the properties of the final products [29]. Ashes are inorganic residues formed from the mineral components of biomass, such as Ca, K, Si, Mg, Al, S, Fe, P, Cl, and Na, as well as some trace elements like Mn and Ti [29]. The ash content in biomass can vary from less than 1%w for wood to as much as 12%w for straw and bagasse (sugar cane residue) [30]. The presence of ash affects the corrosioners of the reaction mixture and the overall efficiency of the process. Volatile matter refers to the fraction of biomass that evaporates during the hydrothermal process. This fraction includes light and heavy compounds that may contribute to the formation of thermal products or be responsible for undesired reactions [30]. The composition of volatile matter can influence the yield and quality of the final products. Fixed carbon is the fraction of biomass that remains after the hydrothermal process. It consists of carbon-rich compounds, such as char, which can contribute to the formation of bio-oil or other value-added products [30]. The fixed carbon content can affect the efficiency of the process and the properties of the final products. By understanding the composition of biomass and optimizing the hydrothermal process conditions, it is possible to maximize the yield of valuable products, such as bio-oil, chemical platforms, or biochar, while minimizing the formation of undesired compounds.  
The two sets of results show some differences in the volatile matter and fixed carbon content, with the second set of results showing higher values for both. The ash content is also slightly lower in the second set of results. The moisture content is similar in both sets of results. These differences in composition could impact the yield and quality of thermal products obtained from the hydrothermal valorization of pea pods and are caused by changes in the production of the pea pods, such as weather, soil, and crop variety [31]. Understanding the composition of biomass is crucial for optimizing the valorization process and developing value-added products from biomass.  
\begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c} \hline \hline
**Essay** & **Result (\%w) 1** & **Result (\%w) 2** \\ \hline Moisture & 7.77 \(\pm\) 0.6 & 7.0 \\ Ashes & 4.22 \(\pm\) 0.11 & 3.5 \\ Volatile matter & 74.18 \(\pm\) 0.11 & 78.0 \\ Fixed carbon & 13.0 & 18.0 \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular} \({}^{\dagger}\) Results obtained in the present paper; 2 Results reported for pea pods [28].  
\end{table}
Table 4: Proximate analysis of the pea pod waste sample.