Water Hyacinth Research Articles

A green method to improve adsorption capacity of hydrochar by ball-milling: enhanced norfloxacin adsorption performance and mechanistic insight

The application of hydrochar as a cost-effective solution has received much attention for the remediation of contaminated water. An economical and environmental approach to enhancing the physicochemical and adsorption performance of hydrochar is essential. In this study, the green technology of ball-milling was firstly employed to improve the adsorption capacity of hydrochar for the typical antibiotics norfloxacin. Aqueous batch adsorption experiment using both pristine and ball milled hydrochar derived from water hyacinth, prepared by hydrothermal carbonization at three temperatures (180, 200, 220 °C) was conducted. The results showed that ball-milling decreased the specific surface area of hydrochar, but still greatly enhanced their performance on the adsorption of norfloxacin. Surface functional groups, aromatization degree, and hydrophobicity of hydrochar were increased after ball-milling, as evidenced by measurements of Boehm titration, Raman spectra, and contact angle, respectively. With these changes, all the ball-milled water hyacinth hydrochar exhibited a better performance on the adsorption of norfloxacin than pristine hydrochar. Ball-milled 220 °C water hyacinth hydrochar showed the greatest norfloxacin adsorption (68.53 mg g−1) compared to unmilled hydrochar (24.29 mg g−1), and the enhancement was effective in a wide pH range (5–9) in aqueous solutions. The thermodynamics study indicated that the norfloxacin adsorption on ball-milled hydrochar was both physically spontaneous and exothermic. Combined physicochemical characterization of hydrochar and batch experiment results suggest that the enhanced adsorption capacity was owing to boosting H-bonds, π-π electron-donor–acceptor, and hydrophobic interaction. This study suggested that ball-milling can be served as a facile, green, and cost-effective method to obtain modified hydrochar for the removal of pollutants in water.

Evaluation of co-culture of cellulolytic fungi for enhanced cellulase and xylanase activity and saccharification of untreated lignocellulosic material.

Bioethanol production from lignocellulosic materials is hindered by the high costs of pretreatment and the enzymes. The present study aimed to evaluate whether co-cultivation of four selected cellulolytic fungi yields higher cellulase and xylanase activities compared to the monocultures and to investigate whether the enzymes from the co-cultures yield higher saccharification on selected plant materials without thermo-chemical pretreatment. The fungal isolates, Trichoderma reesei F118, Penicillium javanicum FS7, Talaromyces sp. F113, and Talaromyces pinophilus FM9, were grown as monocultures and binary co-cultures under submerged conditions for 7days. The cellulase and xylanase activities of the culture filtrates were measured, and the culture filtrates were employed for the saccharification of sugarcane leaves, Guinea grass leaves, and water hyacinth stems and leaves. Total reducing sugars and individual sugars released from each plant material were quantified. The co-culture of Talaromyces sp. F113 with Penicillium javanicum FS7 and of T. reesei F118 with T. pinophilus FM9 produced significantly higher cellulase activities compared to the corresponding monocultures whereas no effect was observed on xylanase activities. Overall, the highest amounts of total reducing sugars and individual sugars were obtained from Guinea grass leaves saccharified with the co-culture of T. reesei F118 with T. pinophilus FM9, yielding 63.5% saccharification. Guinea grass leaves were found to be the most susceptible to enzymatic saccharification without pre-treatment, while water hyacinth stems and leaves were the least. Accordingly, the study suggests that fungal co-cultivation could be a promising approach for the saccharification of lignocellulosic materials for bioethanol production.

Hydrochar production through co-hydrothermal carbonization of water hyacinth and plastic waste

Abstract The global expansion of the economy and concerns about greenhouse gas emissions and climate change necessitate the exploration of sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels. Water hyacinth (WH) is globally recognized as one of the most problematic aquatic weeds, posing significant challenges to urban management by clogging waterways, polluting water sources, and causing harm to ecosystems. However, water hyacinth is enriched with hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin, making it a noteworthy and superior biomass resource. Hence, this study focuses on the hydrothermal carbonization of water hyacinth into a renewable fuel source, the hydrochar. Hydrothermal treatment was implemented in this work as it can treat wet biomass, in this case, the water hyacinth, without the need of energy-extensive drying process. Plastic waste (PW), or more specifically low-density polyethylene (LDPE), was added as the co-feedstock during the HTC process with the purpose to boost the higher heating value (HHV) of the end product. The co-hydrothermal carbonization (co-HTC) process of the mixture of WH and PW at various ratios and temperatures were conducted to investigate the optimal HTC condition for high hydrochar yields. As the result, the highest hydrochar yield of 29.23 wt% was obtained with 12.5% LDPE substitution percentage, at 200 °C after a holding time of 90 min. However, in term of energy recovery efficiency (ER), the highest efficiency (27.28%) was achieved with 12.5% LDPE substitution percentage at 260 °C. The HHV value of the hydrochar produced in this work is in the range of 17.71-24.69 MJ/kg. In summary, the co-HTC of WH and LDPE could definitely be a promising alternative to bridge the gap from solid waste to renewable fuels.

Optimization of Water Hyacinth Stem-Based Oxygen-Functionalized Activated Carbon for Enhanced Supercapacitors.

In the current world, storing and converting energy without affecting the natural ecosystem are considered a sustainable and efficient green energy source production technology. Especially, using low-cost, environmentally friendly, and high-cycle stability activated carbon (AC) from the water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) waste material for charge storage application is the current attractive strategy for renewable energy generation. In this study, preparation of AC from water hyacinth using a mixed chemical activation agent followed by activation time was optimized by the I-optimal coordinate exchange design model based on a 3-factor/3-level strategy under nine experimental runs. The optimum conditions to prepare AC were found to be potassium hydroxide (≈17 g) and potassium carbonate (≈11 g), and the carbonization time was approximately 1 h. Under these augmented conditions, the maximum specific capacitance suggested by the designed model was found to be ≈75.2 F/g. The regression coefficient (R 2 = 0.9979), adjusted (R 2 = 0.9917), predicted (R 2 = 0.8706), adequate precision (39.2795), and p-values (0.0062) proved the good correlation between actual and predicted values. The physicochemical and electrochemical properties of the final optimized AC were characterized by thermogravimetric/differential thermal analysis (TGA/DTA), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution TEM (HRTEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), and potentiostat (CV and EIS) instruments. Finally, the optimized AC electrode after 100 cycles at a current density of 2 A g-1 retains an efficiency of 71.57%, indicating the good stability and sustainability of this material.

Mechanical properties and formulation of hydrophilic fiber and shrimp shell combination as a novel eco-friendly dental restoration material

This study evaluates the mechanical properties and formulation of dental restoration material comprised of cellulose acetate (CA) from water hyacinth and chitosan (C) from white shrimp shells. The research phases included extraction, formulation, functional group testing, antibacterial, toxicity, water absorption and solubility, compressive, shear, tensile, hardness, microleakage, thermal expansion, and shrinkage. The experimental data were analyzed using probit regression, one-way ANOVA, and Kruskal-Wallis test. The data showed that CA and C had microxyl and amine groups, could inhibit S. mutans, and were non-toxic. Composite resins were divided into nine formulations with different concentrations: F1 (1 % CA + 3 % C), F2 (1 % CA + 5 % C), F3 (1 % CA + 7 % C), F4 (3 % CA + 3 % C), F5 (3 % CA + 5 % C), F6 (3 % CA + 7 % C), F7 (5 % CA + 3 % C), F8 (5 % CA + 5 % C), and F9 (5 % CA + 7 % C). The F9 has mechanical strength close to the control group, with 113.33 μg/mm3 absorption, 80 μg/mm3 solubility, 32.67 Mpa compressive strength, 17.18 Mpa tensile strength, and no shrinkage. It shows that F9 has potential as an eco-friendly dental filling material. The present study completed the development of a formulation for a restoration material by combining water hyacinth fiber and shrimp skin chitosan. The outcomes of a comparative analysis of the mechanical properties of synthetic composite resins and water hyacinth fiber composites containing shrimp skin chitosan revealed that the F9 formulation (CA 5 % + C 7 %) exhibited the following fiber: absorption, compressive strength, tensile strength, hardness, and thermal expansion.

Solid Formulation of <em>Trichoderma virens</em> for the Management of Banana Anthracnose Caused by<em> Colletotrichum musae</em>

Trichoderma spp. widely used as biocontrol agents for controllin g a wide range of plant diseases. Banana anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum musae is a prominent, widely distributed postharvest disease. This study was carried ou t to assess the effectiveness of locally isolated Trichoderma virens against C. musae and the mass producti on of T. virens using locally available, low-cost solid substrates. T. virens was tested for the inhibition of C. musae isolate in -vitro and in-vivo by dual plating and inoculating into two varieties of ripened banana: Kolikuttu and Cavendish, respectively. For mass production, T. virens was inoculated into different solid substrates including scraped coconut waste, sawdust, tea waste, seeds from rice, finger millet, and maize, dried pieces of water hyacinth plant, paddy straw, and Panicum maximum leaves; regularly taken spore co unts (cfu/g) and checked for viability by plating after 12 weeks of storage. The pathogen inhibition percentag e by T. virens was 74.10%. Disease severity was 0% in Kolikuttu and 19% in Cavendish after 5 days of T. virens spore appli cation (1x107 spores/ml). Significantly higher (p≤0.05) mean spore production resulted in rice seeds (9.345x109 spores/g) compared to the other substrates and the least resulted in sawdust (1.808x109 spores/g) at the 8th week after T. virens inoculation. Spores of T. virens were viable in all the tested substrates throughout the study period. The results conclude that T. virens is capable of controlling banana anthracnose and can be efficiently mass-produced by using rice seeds, dried pieces of P. maximum leaves, and f inger millet seeds as substrates.

Structural and Electrochemical Evolution of Water Hyacinth-Derived Activated Carbon with Gamma Pretreatment for Supercapacitor Applications.

This study introduces a gamma pretreatment of water hyacinth powder for activated carbon (AC) production with improved electrochemical properties for supercapacitor applications. The structural and morphological changes of post-irradiation were meticulously analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The pretreatment significantly modifies the pore structure and reduces the particle size of the resulting activated carbon (WHAC). Nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms indicated a substantial increase in micropore volume with escalating doses of gamma irradiation. Electrochemically, the activated carbon produced from pretreated WH at 100 kGy exhibited a marked increase in specific capacitance, reaching 257.82 F g-1, a notable improvement over the 95.35 F g-1 of its untreated counterpart, while maintaining 99.40% capacitance after 7000 cycles. These findings suggest that gamma-pretreated biomasses are promising precursors for fabricating high-performance supercapacitor electrodes, offering a viable and environmentally friendly alternative for energy storage technology development.

Utilization of Used Cooking Oil in Making Liquid Soap with the Addition of Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) Leaf Extract as an Antibacterial

Utilization of Used Cooking Oil in Making Liquid Soap with the Addition of Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) Leaf Extract as an Antibacterial

The Socio-Economic and Ecological Impacts of Water Hyacinth Proliferation in water bodies: A Case from Greater Kochi area in South India

Purpose of this study is to critically analyze the socio-ecological impact of water hyacinth on the water bodies passing through 7 wards of the Thrippunithura Municipality in the Ernakulam district of the state of Kerala, India, by checking the quality of water and conducting surveys among the people. Research Design The study employs a combination of exploratory and descriptive research approaches. Purposive sampling targets individuals directly impacted by water hyacinth proliferation. Methodology Data collection involved direct surveys using a structured questionnaire and water samples from selected regions. Results: reveal significant socio-economic ramifications of water hyacinth proliferation, particularly impacting fishing communities. Challenges include job losses, diminished access to fishing grounds, navigational hindrances, reduced catches, and fish scarcity. Ecologically, water quality parameters show notable disparities between heavily-infested and less-infested areas, highlighting the weed's impact on aquatic ecosystems. The phytoremediation potential of water hyacinth was also explored, revealing its ability to accumulate heavy metals such as chromium, cadmium, copper, zinc, lead, iron, and arsenic. Originality of Research This study records the socio-ecological impact of water hyacinths on the communities and environment, particularly the water bodies, of the Greater Cochin area, Kerala, India.

Studies the Effect of Particle Size, Binder Ratio and Pressure on Compaction Energy of Water Hyacinth Briquettes

Studies the Effect of Particle Size, Binder Ratio and Pressure on Compaction Energy of Water Hyacinth Briquettes

Experimental Setup and Mathematical Modeling of Cutting Parameters for Water Hyacinth Removal Systems: Optimizing Specific Power Consumption and Cutting Efficiency

Experimental Setup and Mathematical Modeling of Cutting Parameters for Water Hyacinth Removal Systems: Optimizing Specific Power Consumption and Cutting Efficiency

Water Hyacinth Biochar: A Sustainable Approach for Enhancing Soil Resistance to Acidification Stress and Nutrient Dynamics in an Acidic Nitisol of the Northwest Highlands of Ethiopia

Soil acidity impacted over 43% of Ethiopia’s arable land and debilitated agricultural productivity. Due to reacidification susceptibility, high costs, and inadequate availability of lime, biochar has emerged as an alternative soil acidity ameliorator. However, biochar application, particularly from invasive plants such as water hyacinth, as a soil acidity amendment and waste management strategy has not fully expanded in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study investigated the potential of water hyacinth biochar (WHB) to enhance soil resistance to acidification stresses and nutrient dynamics in an acidic Nitisol of the northwest highlands of Ethiopia. An incubation study was conducted using nine treatments viz. control (soil only), biochar produced using a furnace (WHBf), and a grounding method (WHBg) each at 1% and 2% application rates, lime (L), fertilizer (F), 2% WHBf combined with fertilizer (2WHBfF), and lime combined with fertilizer (LF). Soil samples, except the control, underwent simulated acidification with HNO3. The results showed that WHB decelerated nitrification, reduced H+ ions released into the soil, and enhanced available phosphorus and nitrogen dynamics. After incubation, 1% and 2% WHB applications increased soil pH in the range of 0.30–0.35 and 0.72–0.86 units, respectively, compared to the limed soil. Conversely, exchangeable acidity decreased by 26.5% to 28.8% and 58.4% to 63%, respectively. The 2WHBfF treatment led to soil pH increases of 0.71 and 0.90 units, with exchangeable acidity reductions of 49.8% and 64.7% compared to the LF and F treatments, respectively. Compared to lime, WHB treatments demonstrated more effective resistance against soil acidification from nitrification and simulated acidification with HNO3. Therefore, WHB can be used as a sustainable approach to increase soil resistance against various acidification stresses while aiding in soil nutrient management. The study’s findings can offer valuable insights to change environmental challenges into sustainable soil acidity management approaches.

Global impact of water hyacinth (Eichhornia Crassipes) on rural communities and mitigation strategies: a systematic review.

The proliferation of water hyacinths (Eichhornia crassipes), recognized as one of the most invasive aquatic plants worldwide, presents profound ecological and socioeconomic challenges across diverse ecosystems, particularly in rural communities. This systematic review examines the extensive global impacts and explores various mitigation strategies to manage and utilize this pervasive species. Ecologically, water hyacinth disrupts aquatic ecosystems by depleting oxygen levels, obstructing sunlight, and displacing native species, which in turn compromises water quality and biodiversity. Economically, its rapid spread affects agriculture, fishing, and navigation, imposing significant costs on local economies and livelihoods. In response, this review assesses integrated management approaches combining mechanical, chemical, and biological controls that have been implemented to curb its growth. Moreover, innovative strategies that repurpose the biomass for bioenergy, handicrafts, and bio-remediation are discussed, highlighting their potential to transform an ecological menace into an economic resource. These strategies not only mitigate the plant's negative impacts but also contribute to sustainable development by providing economic opportunities and enhancing ecosystem services. This review stresses the necessity for a holistic approach to water hyacinth management that is adaptive, sustainable, and beneficial to affected communities.

Biological pretreatment of Eichhornia crassipes (water hyacinth) by Alternaria alternata ANF238 and optimization of growth factors for enhanced delignification

Biological pretreatment of Eichhornia crassipes (water hyacinth) by Alternaria alternata ANF238 and optimization of growth factors for enhanced delignification

Enhancing Soil Environments and Wheat Production through Water Hyacinth Biochar under Deficit Irrigation in Ethiopian Acidic Silty Loam Soil

Enhancing Soil Environments and Wheat Production through Water Hyacinth Biochar under Deficit Irrigation in Ethiopian Acidic Silty Loam Soil

Ecological Dynamics of Water Hyacinth in Coimbatore Lakes: Implications for Biomass, Carbon Stock, and Nutrient Management

In aquatic ecosystems, water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) often proliferates, impacting water quality and ecological balance. This study investigates the density, biomass, carbon stock, and nutrient concentrations of E. crassipes across five significant lakes in Coimbatore: Krishnampathy, Kurichi, Ukkadam, Singanallur, and Sulur. Field surveys, laboratory analyses and statistical methods were adopted in this study. The highest density of E. crassipes was observed in Krishnampathy Lake (59±2.5, no./m2). The biomass values (kg/m2) ranged from 1.00 to 7.33 for leaf, 3.23 to 8.03 for stalk, and from 1.47 to 10.80 for root samples. The carbon stock values (kg/m2) ranged from 0.51 to 3.74 for leaf, 1.49 to 3.73 for stalk, and from 0.68 to 4.19 for root samples, revealing the species potential role in reducing atmospheric carbon in mitigation of climate change. We have studied the macro and micro-nutrient concentrations present in E. crassipes, and also we checked the relationship between chlorophyll content and nutrient concentration with the carbon stock of different plant parts of E. crassipes. This study contributes to a better understanding of the ecological dynamics of water hyacinth in inland water bodies and its potential implications for carbon cycling and nutrient dynamics.

Efficiency of Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) in the Phytoremediation of Copper-Contaminated Waters of Lake Tempe, South Sulawesi Indonesia

Efficiency of Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) in the Phytoremediation of Copper-Contaminated Waters of Lake Tempe, South Sulawesi Indonesia

Studies on the Impact of Microplastics in Freshwater Systems: Biota Could Be Vital Indicators in Delta State, Nigeria

Microplastics have impacted freshwater system globally. Despite the global concern about microplastic pollution, only a little is evidenced in research on the occurrence and intensity of pollution in research. This study determined the effects of microplastics on aquatic water bodies was determined using plants as bio-indicator. The study was conducted bimonthly (June- August) to examine the occurrence of microplastics. Physicochemical parameters and biochemical parameters of plants were analyzed using standard methods. Hydrogen ion concentrations of the water sources were mildly acidic (5.6±0.15 and 5.49±0.19), and turbidity levels were notably high (71.00±4.20 NTU and 92.70 ±4.32 NTU) in lotic and lentic water bodies respectively. Dissolved oxygen and biological oxygen demand were significantly compared within aquatic systems (p<0.05). Water hyacinth- Pontederia crassipes Mart (former Eichhornia crassipes) exhibited higher levels of soluble sugar at 110.34±3.32 mg/L in lotic water body compared to water leaf- Talinum triangulare (Jacq.) Willd, 70.44±4.78 mg/L in lentic water. Total chlorophyll levels and water retention capacity were lower in lotic water at 37.90±2.35 and 2.08±0.21 respectively. Ascorbic acid levels were higher in lotic water (308.00±12.34 mg/100g). Chironomus sp. and Nais sp. were commonly encountered. The vital role of Chironomus sp. and Nais sp. should not be underestimated as bioindicators in freshwater systems. Hence, they should be further investigated in different freshwater ecosystems.

Sustainable Solutions for Heavy Metal Contamination: Characterization and Regeneration of Water Hyacinth Biosorbent in Wastewater Treatment

<p>The water hyacinth biosorbent has undergone thorough characterization and assessment for its capacity to remove heavy metals, specifically Pb(II) and Hg(II), from aqueous solutions. Notably, the biosorbent demonstrated an impressive maximum adsorption capacity for Pb and Hg, reaching values of 158.7 mg/g and 123.5 mg/g, respectively. Indeed, these adsorption capacities align with or even surpass those documented in the existing literature for various biosorbents derived from similar agro-industrial waste materials. Several methods were used to characterize the water hyacinth biosorbent's structure and morphology, including pH-Zero Point Change, scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDS), and infrared spectrometry with Fourier transform (FT-IR). The water hyacinth biosorbent was found to have broken exteriors with mixed particles that involved useful adsorption clusters such as OH, C=O, and C-O-C. The most effective adsorption of Pb(II) and Hg(II) takes place at a pH of 5.0, using a hyacinth dose of 2 g/L. The chemisorption process is the primary cause of the fast growth rate of the adsorption process, which is governed by pseudo-second-order kinetics. Using a 0.1M HNO3 eluent, both biosorbents were effectively regenerated, enabling effective reuse for up to five cycles. The thermodynamic studies confirm the endothermic nature of the adsorption process.</p>

Biogas production from water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) harvested from River Wouri, Douala, Cameroon

Over the past three decades, growing global interest has been in replacing fossil fuels with clean energy from renewable resources. As a result, biogas generation from biodegradable organic waste has become increasingly popular, and water hyacinth is a menace wherever it exists. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) from River Wouri as a biogas substrate. Equal volumes (700 mL) of water hyacinth and poultry-based inoculum were prepared, each with a duplicate. The 8 substrates were placed in 1-liter plastic and incubated in a water bath at 37± 2 °C for 106 days. The substrates were subsampled before and after incubation to analyse the dry matter, moisture, volatile solids, ash contents, and pH. The volume of biogas produced from each digester was collected in plastic bags and measured every three days; hence, the methane produced was calculated. Results indicated an increase in the moisture contents of the substrates, while pH levels remained unchanged after incubation. The rate of destruction of volatile solids increased with the level of added inoculum. Biogas production started almost immediately for all the samples and largely followed a dome shape over the incubation period. Cumulative methane produced were 10.23, 11.84, 5.88, and 0.71 LCH4/kgVS, respectively, for 100% water hyacinth, 90% water hyacinth, 80% water hyacinth and 0% water hyacinth. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of the weed in biogas production, which could be an important method to manage River Wouri while generating renewable energy.