Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes): Novel Applications and Products Through Biotechnological Interventions

Abstract

Water hyacinth well-known as Eichhornia crassipes is a marine plant that is indigenous to the Amazon basin and is referred to as one of the most deleterious aquatic wild plants in the world. It is one of the fastest-growing plants that reproduce both asexually and sexually through runners or stolons and through seeds, respectively. There are several problems caused by water hyacinth, i.e., blockage of water bodies, providing a breeding ground for mosquitoes, hinders water transportation, loss of biodiversity, prevents the penetration of sunlight, less opportunity for fishing, harmful effects on human health, etc. Water hyacinth biomass is easily available and can be used for several biotechnological remediations like wastewater treatment (phytoremediation), biogas production, use as compost, bioethanol production, etc. Several phytochemicals like alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, tannin, phenolic compounds, sterols, etc. have also been reported in water hyacinth. It has many applications like paper manufacturing, fiberboard production, basket, footwear and handicraft manufacturing, etc. In this chapter, water hyacinth biomass utilization is discussed for various bioremediation processes as well as the harmful effects and various applications of water hyacinth have also been elaborated.