Identifying Advanced Biotechnologies to Generate Biofertilizers and Biofuels From the World’s Worst Aquatic Weed

Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes L.) was introduced as an invasive plant in freshwater bodies more particularly in Asia and Africa. This invasive plant grows rapidly and then occupies a huge layer of freshwater bodies. Hence, challenges are facing many countries for implementing suitable approaches for the valorization of the world’s worst aquatic weed, and water hyacinth (WH). A critical and up-to-date review article has been conducted for more than 1 year, based on more than 100 scientific journal articles, case studies, and other scientific reports. Worldwide distribution of WH and the associated social, economic, and environmental impacts were described. In addition, an extensive evaluation of the most widely used and innovative valorization biotechnologies, leading to the production of biofertilizer and bioenergy from WH, and was dressed. Furthermore, an integrated search was used in order to examine the related advantages and drawbacks of each bioprocess, and future perspectives stated. Aerobic and anaerobic processes have their specific basic parameters, ensuring their standard performances. Composting was mostly used even at a large scale, for producing biofertilizers from WH. Nevertheless, this review explored some critical points to better optimize the conditions (presence of pollutants, inoculation, and duration) of composting. WH has a high potential for biofuel production, especially by implementing several pretreatment approaches. This review highlighted the combined pretreatment (physical-chemical-biological) as a promising approach to increase biofuel production. WH valorization must be in large quantities to tackle its fast proliferation and to ensure the generation of bio-based products with significant revenue. So, a road map for future researches and applications based on an advanced statistical study was conducted. Several recommendations were explored in terms of the choice of co-substrates, initial basic parameters, and pretreatment conditions and all crucial conditions for the production of biofuels from WH. These recommendations will be of a great interest to generate biofertilizers and bioenergy from WH, especially within the framework of a circular economy.

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An Assessment of Different Integration Strategies of Hydrothermal Carbonisation and Anaerobic Digestion of Water Hyacinth

Energies ◽

10.3390/en13225983 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (22) ◽

pp. 5983

Author(s):

Aaron E. Brown ◽

Jessica M. M. Adams ◽

Oliver R. Grasham ◽

Miller Alonso Camargo-Valero ◽

Andrew B. Ross

Keyword(s):

Anaerobic Digestion ◽

Water Hyacinth ◽

Large Scale ◽

Aquatic Macrophyte ◽

Integration Strategy ◽

Bioenergy Generation ◽

Global Presence ◽

Freshwater Bodies ◽

Hydrothermal Carbonisation ◽

Integration Strategies

Water hyacinth (WH) is an invasive aquatic macrophyte that dominates freshwater bodies across the world. However, due to its rapid growth rate and wide-spread global presence, WH could offer great potential as a biomass feedstock, including for bioenergy generation. This study compares different integration strategies of hydrothermal carbonisation (HTC) and anaerobic digestion (AD) using WH, across a range of temperatures. These include (i) hydrochar combustion and process water digestion, (ii) hydrochar digestion, (iii) slurry digestion. HTC reactions were conducted at 150 °C, 200 °C, and 250 °C. Separation of hydrochars for combustion and process waters for digestion offers the most energetically-feasible valorisation route. However, hydrochars produced from WH display slagging and fouling tendencies; limiting their use in large-scale combustion. AD of WH slurry produced at 150 °C appears to be energetically-feasible and has the potential to also be a viable integration strategy between HTC and AD, using WH.

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The sugar and alcohol industry in the biofuels and cogeneration era: a paradigm change (part II)

Sugar Industry ◽

10.36961/si15275 ◽

2014 ◽

pp. 97-104 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Electo Eduardo Silv Lora ◽

Mateus Henrique Rocha ◽

José Carlos Escobar Palacio ◽

Osvaldo José Venturini ◽

Maria Luiza Grillo Renó ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Large Scale ◽

New Technologies ◽

Process Integration ◽

Animal Feed ◽

Raw Materials ◽

Biofuel Production ◽

New Paradigm ◽

Alcohol Industry ◽

Feed Production ◽

Steam Parameters

The aim of this paper is to discuss the major technological changes related to the implementation of large-scale cogeneration and biofuel production in the sugar and alcohol industry. The reduction of the process steam consumption, implementation of new alternatives in driving mills, the widespread practice of high steam parameters use in cogeneration facilities, the insertion of new technologies for biofuels production (hydrolysis and gasification), the energy conversion of sugarcane trash and vinasse, animal feed production, process integration and implementation of the biorefinery concept are considered. Another new paradigm consists in the wide spreading of sustainability studies of products and processes using the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and the implementation of sustainability indexes. Every approach to this issue has as an objective to increase the economic efficiency and the possibilities of the sugarcane as a main source of two basic raw materials: fibres and sugar. The paper briefly presents the concepts, indicators, state-of-the-art and perspectives of each of the referred issues.

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Extraction, Purification and Characterization of Nanocrystalline Cellulose from Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms: A Common Aquatic Weed Water Hyacinth

Journal of Natural Fibers ◽

10.1080/15440478.2021.1946886 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-12

Author(s):

Kannan Kilavan Packiam ◽

Bharani Murugesan ◽

Pavithra Mettupalayam Kaliyannan Sundaramoorthy ◽

Harshini Srinivasan ◽

Keerthika Dhanasekaran

Keyword(s):

Water Hyacinth ◽

Eichhornia Crassipes ◽

Nanocrystalline Cellulose ◽

Aquatic Weed ◽

Purification And Characterization

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Bio-Flocculation Property Analyses of Oleaginous Microalgae Auxenochlorella protothecoides UTEX 2341

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13052885 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (5) ◽

pp. 2885

Author(s):

Jinyu Li ◽

Baozhen Li ◽

Jinshui Yang

Keyword(s):

Large Scale ◽

Municipal Wastewater ◽

Biofuel Production ◽

Microalgae Harvesting ◽

Flocculation Efficiency ◽

Oleaginous Microalgae ◽

Freeze Dried ◽

Flocculation Ability ◽

Powder Samples ◽

Auxenochlorella Protothecoides

The bio-flocculation ability of UTEX 2341 was studied for the purpose of improving microalgae harvesting efficiency to cut the high cost of biofuel production. The algae cells of UTEX 2341 cultured under heterotrophic and municipal wastewater conditions were found to have better self-flocculation ability, with flocculation rates of 92% and 85% at 2 h, respectively. Moreover, the flocculation rates of 16 freeze-dried microalgae powder samples cultured under different stress conditions were 0~72% with an algae powder dosage of 35 mg L−1. The flocculation efficiency of DIM, DCd1, DT28, and L6S was stable under different pH of 3~9 and temperatures of 15~50 °C. For samples of IM, LCd0.6, LMn2, and LZn2, the flocculation efficiency decreased or increased respectively with increased pH or temperatures. Though the flocculation properties of the eight samples showed wide differences, their flocculant compositions were almost the same with unknown components occupying large proportions. More studies needed to be further carried out to reveal the flocculation mechanisms and analyze the flocculation abilities in practical application, which would be conducive to future large-scale application of the bio-flocculation method and also cost reduction.

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Biofuel production from bio-waste by biological and physical conversion processes

Waste Management & Research ◽

10.1177/0734242x19868513 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 38 (1) ◽

pp. 69-77

Author(s):

Noppawan Photong ◽

Jaruwan Wongthanate

Keyword(s):

Water Hyacinth ◽

Oxygen Demand ◽

Cassava Starch ◽

Biofuel Production ◽

Conversion Process ◽

Electricity Production ◽

Biological Conversion ◽

Initial Ph ◽

Biomethane Production ◽

Product Standard

This research is focused on the feasibility of biofuel from water hyacinth mixed with cassava starch sediment by biological and physical conversion processes and the comparison of the gross electricity production in these processes. The biological conversion process produced biomethane by anaerobic digestion. The optimal conditions of biomethane production were a ratio of water hyacinth and cassava starch sediment at 25:75, initial pH of 7.5, thermophilic temperature (55 ± 2°C) and C/N ratio of 30. The maximum biomethane yield measured was 436.82 mL CH4 g chemical oxygen demand (COD)−1 and the maximum COD removal was 87.40%. The physical conversion process was bio-briquette. It was found that the ratios of water hyacinth and cassava starch sediment at 10:90, 20:80, 30:70, 40:60 and 50:50 were the best ratio of fuel properties and close to the Thai Community Product Standard, with heating values of 15.66, 15.43, 15.10, 14.88 and 14.58 MJ kg−1, respectively. Moreover, results showed that the gross electricity production of the biological conversion process (biomethane) was 3.90 kWh and the gross electricity production of the physical conversion process (bio-briquette) from the ratios of water hyacinth and cassava starch sediment at 10:90, 20:80, 30:70, 40:60 and 50:50 were 1.52, 1.50, 1.47, 1.45 and 1.42 kWh, respectively.

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Feasibility of Large-Scale Biofuel Production

BioScience ◽

10.2307/1313165 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 47 (9) ◽

pp. 587-600 ◽

Cited By ~ 147

Author(s):

Mario Giampietro ◽

Sergio Ulgiati ◽

David Pimentel

Keyword(s):

Large Scale ◽

Biofuel Production

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Effects of Carrier Material and Design on Microalgae Attachment for Biofuel Manufacturing: A Literature Review

ASME 2010 International Manufacturing Science and Engineering Conference, Volume 1 ◽

10.1115/msec2010-34150 ◽

2010 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Yan Cui ◽

Wenqiao Wayne Yuan ◽

Zhijian Pei

Keyword(s):

Free Energy ◽

Large Scale ◽

Cell Attachment ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Surface Wettability ◽

Biofuel Production ◽

Algae Biofuels ◽

Attachment Strength ◽

Species Specific ◽

Continuous Use

Continuous use of petroleum derived fuels is widely recognized as unsustainable due to depleting supplies and the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the environment. Renewable, carbon neutral transport fuels are needed for environmental and economic sustainabilities. Algae have been demonstrated to be one of the most promising sources for biofuel production. However, large-scale algae production and harvesting for energy manufacturing are too costly using existing methods. The approach of growing algae on solid carriers is innovative and can potentially lead to cost-effective manufacturing of algae biofuels. As cells approach to the solid surface, many factors come in to influence microbial attachment such as the surface wettability, free energy, polarity, roughness and topography. Surface wettability plays an important role in the initial cell attachment. For further contact, surface free energy and polarity are more directly related to cell-substratum attachment strength. Surface roughness and texture are species-specific parameters and have been applied widely in attachment studies.

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State of the Art Research on Sustainable Use of Water Hyacinth: A Bibliometric and Text Mining Analysis

Informatics ◽

10.3390/informatics8020038 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

pp. 38

Author(s):

Aman Basu ◽

Amit Kumar Hazra ◽

Shibani Chaudhury ◽

Andrew B. Ross ◽

Srinivasan Balachandran

Keyword(s):

Water Hyacinth ◽

Eichhornia Crassipes ◽

Biogas Production ◽

Sustainable Use ◽

The United States ◽

Pollutant Removal ◽

Aquatic Weed ◽

Steady Growth ◽

Art Research ◽

Negative Sentiment

This study aims to present a systematic data-driven bibliometric analysis of the water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) infestation problem around the globe. As many solutions are being proposed in academia for its management, mitigation, and utilization, it requires investigation through a systematic scrutinizing lens. In this study, literature records from 1977 to June 2020 concerning research on water hyacinth are taken from Scopus for text analysis. Trends in the publication of different article types, dynamics of publication, clustering, correlation, and co-authoring patterns between different countries are observed. The cluster analysis indicated four clusters viz. (i) ecological works related to species, (ii) pollutant removal process and methods, (iii) utilization of biofuels for biogas production, and (iv) modelling works. It is clear from the networking analysis that most of the publications regarding water hyacinth are from India, followed by China and the United States. Sentiment analysis with the AFINN lexicon showed that the negative sentiment towards the aquatic weed has intensified over time. An exploratory analysis was performed using a bigram network plot, depicting and outlining different important domains of water hyacinth research. Water hyacinth research has passed the pioneering phase and is now at the end of a steady growth phase or at the beginning of an acceleration phase. In this article, an overview is given for the entirety of water hyacinth research, with an indication of future trends and possibilities.

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