Abstract

This chapter describes the challenges, opportunities, and self-sustainability process of biofuel production from water hyacinth (WH) (Eichhornia crassipes). WH is one of the top 10 worst weeds in the world. The presence of WH in water streams causes severe environmental problems and economic losses where huge quantities of fresh water are evaporated due to a rapid growth rate of the plant. Moreover, the plant deteriorates the existing native ecosystem, clogs up lakes and rivers, and obstructs navigation. Fortunately, WH plays a key role for uptake of heavy metals and overcomes the algal growth in water streams. Moreover, WH is very rich with organics, cellulose, and hemicellulose, which represents a promising substrate for production of ethanol (Et-OH), H2, and CH4 using the anaerobic digestion process. The major portion of cellulose, hemicellulose, and protein is in hyacinth leaves, and most of the lignin is in the stem section. The root system has the most ash content and the lowest values of cellulose and hemicellulose. Therefore hyacinth leaves are preferable for biofuel production where the abundant cellulose and hemicellulose could be delignified into glucose and xylose, respectively, by pretreatment processes. The latter could easily be fermented via anaerobic consortium and converted into H2 and/or CH4.

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