Bioethanol And Briquette Production As An Alternative Control Measure Of Water Hyacinth On Lake Victoria

The processing of water hyacinth is one of the predominant energy sources for bioethanol and briquette production, however, its technological development in developing countries is still limited. This study investigated the physico-chemical properties of water hyacinth as well as the energy characteristics of bioethanol and briquettes. Fresh water hyacinth samples were collected and analysed for lignin, cellulose, hemicellulose, dry matter, ash content, organic matter and organic carbon contents. Bioethanol was produced through acid (0.5 M), alkali (0.5 M) and yeast saccharification (20g) pretreatment, followed by fermentation and distillation of crude ferment. Bioethanol was analysed for brix, pH, percent yield and calorific value. Briquettes were produced by drying freshwater hyacinth, carbonizing and compacting of biochar with cassava starch, anthill soil and cow dung binders. The briquette quality was determined using proximate and ultimate analysis. The physical-chemical analysis results for lignin content, cellulose content, hemicellulose, dry matter, ash content, organic matter and organic carbon percentage contents were 20.20%, 24.63%, 27.87%, 15.13%, 3.80%, 96.63% and 96.35% respectively. The percentage bio-ethanol yields were 29.5 % acid hydrolysed ferment, 18% alkali hydrolysed ferment and 20.5 % enzyme hydrolysed ferment. The calorific values of bioethanol and briquette samples of cassava starch, anthill soil, cow dung and no binder were 26.4 MJ/kg and 8.061 MJ/kg, 2.076 MJ/kg 9.034 MJ/kg, 7.174 MJ/kg respectively. It was concluded that bioethanol produced from water hyacinth was of good quality and fit for use as a cooking fuel. The briquettes produced using cow dung and cassava starch binder exhibited higher heating values compared to those of anthill soil binder and no binder; therefore, they can be used as an alternative to traditional fuels.