On the potential of water hyacinth as a biomass briquette for heating applications

Abstract

This article highlights the environmental challenge posed by water hyacinth on fresh water sources in Zimbabwe and investigates the use of the harvested weed as a source of energy in the form of briquettes. The water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), known to be native to South America, has now become an environmental and social challenge throughout most water sources in Zimbabwe. It adversely affects the environment and humans in diverse ways. However, the plant leaves and stem release thermal energy when burned. The amount of thermal energy released depends on the moisture content and other factors. The water hyacinth organic matter and other leaf species were briquetted and their thermal energy content investigated in this exercise. The thermal energy content of the various samples was measured using a bomb calorimeter. Results of the experiments showed that the calorific value of briquetted hyacinth was 14.55 MJ/kg. The calorific value of briquetted samples of other eleven leaf species ranged from 14 to 20 MJ/kg. Moisture content, volatile matter and ash content results of the samples are also reported in this paper. The results show that water hyacinth briquettes can be used as thermal and lighting energy source particularly for communities staying in the vicinity of the affected water sources.