Abstract

Three different studies were performed for the conversion of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) plant into biofuel. In the first study, water hyacinth was saccharified with diluted sulfuric acid (1% v/v at 110°C for one hour), fermented by yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae). The results showed the formation of 55.20% ethanol and 41.66% acetic acid. In another experiment, water hyacinth was gasified by using Ni and Co nano catalysts at 50 - 400°C and atmospheric pressure. In catalytic gasification, CH₄ (2.41 - 6.67%), C₂H₄ (19.74 - 45.52%), C₃H₄ (21.04 - 45.52%), CH₃OH (1.43 - 24.67%), and C₃H₈ / CH₃CHO (0.33 - 26.09%) products were obtained. In this study, anatase form of titanium dioxide photocatalyst was used. The reaction was performed at room temperature which gives methane, methanol and ethanol. This study also reports an interesting finding that metal contaminated water hyacinth could be used for not only the production of biofuel but also hydrocarbons.

Key words: Water hyacinth, bioethanol, metal, cobalt nano particles, nickel nano particles, photocatalyst, biofuel, hydrocarbons.

Abbreviation

GC, Gas chromatography; GC-MS, gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry; CID, charge injection device; IR, infrared; SEM, scanning electron microscope; TEM, transmission electron microscope; XRD, X-ray diffraction; HPLC, high performance liquid chromatography; FCC, face-centred cubic; PCA, photocatalytic activity; UV, ultra-violet.